41st Fife Festival of Music
31st January-10th February 2023
Fife Festival of Music in Triumphant Return
31st January to 10th February 2023 brought the full Fife Festival of Music back to life after an absence of three years due to Covid, lockdowns and fears over transmission of the virus via music playing and singing.
Back to life with a bang, with many exciting performances on platforms – at the Vine Centre, Dunfermline, and in Kirkcaldy at St Peter’s Church and St Bryce Kirk Centre. As ever, primary and secondary schools brought their well-rehearsed music to perform to audiences of parents/carers, friends and interested members of the community. There were also many solo instrumental and vocal performances from all ages. A continuing major feature of the Festival is the community element: this year 11 adult choirs, 10 large ensembles and 7 smaller ones over four evenings proving that music encompasses all and is a vital part of life for so many. The Festival hub was to be found in St Bryce Kirk from where all operations were controlled and where the Festival shop attracted audiences and passers-by. The final Friday evening included the annual reception for Festival Friends. Those with good memories could recall the celebrations from the 40th Festival in 2020 when Treasurer and keen baker Jean Galloway produced a stunning cake to grace the stage – and eaten afterwards, of course! For 2023, Jean took on the task of welcoming all back to the Festival with a magnificent piano cake – as shown below – and eaten afterwards, of course!! The final event, on 10th February, was the Young Musician 2023 final, the competitors comprising the winners of the Open solo instrumental and Young Singer classes. Adjudicators Mae Murraay and Stephen Cowan praised the young musicians and commented on the extremely high standard of performance. The winner of the 2023 Fife Festival of Music Young Musician class, presented with the Glen More Trophy, was trombonist Robbie Dowall from Dunfermline, an S6 student at Woodmill High School. In conjunction with Fife Council Education and Children’s Services music department, the event doubled as the Fife area final of the Scottish Young Musician competition with Robbie Dowall declared the winner. The national final takes place in Glasgow in May. FFoM returns in 2024, 29th January – 9th February - watch this space! |
Robbie Dowall with the Glen More Trophy
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The finalists with the Adjudicators
back row: Pawel Szulc – piano, Kinghorn; Connor Hill-Tibbs – harp, Kirkcaldy; Daniel Armstrong – ‘cello, Blebo Craigs; Tara McGhie – saxophone, Wormit front row: Stephen Cowan; Faith Mackenzie Page – clarsach, St Andrews; Lorelle Brodie – vocal, Kirkcaldy; Robbie Dowall – trombone, Dunfermline; Ruth Carson – percussion, Burntisland; Mae Murray. |
The Cake!
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Robbie Dowall with Stephen Cowan and Mae Murray
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Yet again we have had wonderful support from businesses, music groups and individuals - see our Current Sponsors page. Their support is invaluable and allows us to maintain our wide-ranging Festival of Music. To you all - a huge thank you!
