A Musical Fortnight

Eleanor has been very busy with her musical activities over the past fortnight. First of all, she took her Grade 5 singing exam. Her song choices were Home from Beauty and the Beast, Somewhere Over The Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz, and an Italian song, Sebben, crudele. She also had an aural test, had to sight read, and perform a vaccai vocal exercise. She did really well and came out with a merit, which I think is excellent. Eleanor was a little disappointed as she's always got a distinction in her previous exams. She got 83 marks out of one hundred and would have needed 87 for a distinction, so she wasn't far off. She's a bit of a perfectionist where music's concerned, so she's very self critical, but we're very proud of her achieving a merit as we know she's put a lot of work in.

On Friday, Eleanor took part in the local competitive music festival. Her first class was the Girls and Boys Solo, 14 years and under. She had to sing a set song, Five Eyes by Armstrong Gibbs and she came second. The second class she entered was the Girls Solo, 16 years and under. Again, it was a set song, The Sky Above the Roof by R Vaughan Williams. She did very well and came first. She was awarded a cup for this. The Junior Show Class, 18 years and under was the third class she entered. She could choose her own song, so she chose Home by Menken and came third. She really enjoys competing in this festival, it's the fifth year she's taken part.

This morning, Eleanor performed a Passion Play at church with her drama group. She was a narrator as well as taking the part of Mary Magdalene. It was very well received by the congregation.

I think after this flurry of activity, she's due a rest now before her next concert, which is in June.