DESPITE a drop in entries the Luther Greenwood Music Festival at Colne ended on a high note with mezzo-soprano Judith Addison of Oswaldtwistle winning the Rose Bowl competition and lifting the Lancashire Evening Telegraph Trophy.

The rose bowl is competed for by the class winners.

Also competing were soprano Ruth Dixon of Colne, tenor, Michael Kneale of the Isle of Man and bass/baritone Bill Ormerod of Nelson.

Bill also won the John Hargreaves trophy for bass/baritone, the Colne Operatic trophy for light opera/musical and the John Crabtree trophy for the local entrant gaining highest percentage marks.

Eighteen-year-old Richard Irvine of Bootle was chosen to represent Colne at the National Millennium Festival. He gained 90 marks in the piano class for 18s and under and also did well in singing classes.

Results secretary Kathleen Bannister said: "Although the entry numbers were somewhat down this year and the weather hazardous causing some competitors to withdraw we still experienced a day of delightful music making."

Especially well received were three choirs, Colne Ladies conducted by Alice Smith of Cowling, the Hyndburn Singers, conducted by Julie Townson of Colne and the Accrington Male Voice Choir, conducted by David Wilkinson of Trawden who all won trophies.

Accrington changed their programme to sing Deep Harmony, a piece arranged by Luther Greenwood and "This Old Man" to mark their 80th anniversary. Cup choral winners were Colne with Accrington second and Hyndburn third.

Isle of Man entrant Michael Kneale won the Land trophy for class winners, the Slater trophy for Victorian or Edwardian ballads, the Wilmore trophy for oratorio solo and the tenor solo class. Class successes were: contralto solo, Judith Addison; mezzo-soprano solo, Judith Addison; soprano solo, Ruth Dixon; ballads, 2, Bill Ormerod; 3, Deborah Smith, Burnley.

Operatic solo, 2 Deborah Smith; light opera/musical, 1 Bill Ormerod; 2 Deborah Smith; oratorio, 2 Judith Addison; 3, Doreen Smith, Ramsbottom; leider/art song, 3 Judith Addison; British composer, 3 Leon Hibberd, Bolton.

A name missing from last week's list was Elsie Collinge of Burnley who won bronze medal for her original poem.

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