"Where words fail, music speaks." - Hans Christian Anderson.
CLASSICAL MUSIC SECTION
Monday 5th - Friday 9th May 2025
The official accompanist will be available for competitions that have a set piece. No external accompanist will be allowed to accompany in any competition (excluding instrumental). If transpositions of Second Level set pieces are required, the accompaniment (in the required key) must be submitted for the official accompanist by Monday 7th April 2025.
If competitors wish to avail of the services of the official accompanist for ‘Own Choice’ events, the music secretary must be informed at the time of entry.
Two copies of each piece of music, clearly marked with the event number and name of the competitor, must be submitted to the music secretary by Monday 7th April 2025. One copy is required for the adjudicator and one for the accompanist. Please ensure that the accompanist’s copy is in a format that can be easily read (single sheets stapled in one corner will not be accepted).
If the official accompanist is not required for ‘Own Choice’ events, one copy of music with the event number and name of the competitor should be submitted to the music secretary by Monday 7th April 2025.
NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Entries will not be accepted by telephone.
The adjudicator’s decision is final.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS – CHORAL
COMPETITORS MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN MUSIC STAND
Choral Directors should note that Unison pieces should contain NO harmony.
Event 500 Choral Singing in Irish Language
Competitors will perform two pieces of own choice.
Event 501 Unison Choir Small Primary Schools
Two contrasting pieces of own choice.
Event 502 Unison Choir KS1 Primary School Choir
Two contrasting pieces of own choice.
Event 503 Unison Choir KS2 Primary School Choir
Two contrasting pieces of own choice.
Event 504 Sacred Music
Two contrasting pieces of own choice.
Event 505 Harmonised Choir
Two contrasting pieces of own choice.
Event 506 Junior Song Scena
A performance, not exceeding 15 minutes of music, song, dance, action and a little dialogue if desired. Costumes and a small number of props may be used.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS–SOLO VOCAL
Songs must be sung in the original key, as in the specified publication.
Event 507 Nursery & Reception Girls and Boys
Don't Bother Me- Malvina Reynolds. (Verse 1 only)
Event 508 Year 1 Girls and Boys Solo
Spring Song- German folk song. (2 verses)
Event 509 Year 2 Girls and Boys Solo
The Little Elf- Clifford Crawley (2 verses)
Event 510 Year 3 Girls and Boys Solo
Jenny Wren- Arthur Baynon/ Rodney Bennett
Event 511 Year 4 Girls and Boys Solo
Adventure- Havelock Nelson (2 verses)
Event 512 Year 5 Girls Solo
Omens of Spring- W.H Anderson (2 verses)
Event 513 Year 5 Boys Solo
Omens of Spring- W.H Anderson (2 verses)
Event 514 Year 6 Girls Solo
Early One Morning (3 verses.)
Event 515 Year 6 Boys Solo
Early One Morning (3 verses)
Event 516 Year 7 Girls Solo
Down by the Salley Gardens (Set to the traditional air by Herbert Hughes arr. P.K Clifford.)
Event 517 Year 7 Boys Solo
Down by the Salley Gardens (Set to the traditional air by Herbert Hughes arr. P.K Clifford.)
SECOND LEVEL – CHORAL
COMPETITORS MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN MUSIC STAND
Choirs may choose to give a competitive or non-competitive performance. In either case, an adjudication will be offered.
Event 518 KS3 Junior Choir
Two contrasting pieces of own choice (Unison or Parts)
Please bring a copy of your chosen pieces for the Adjudicator.
Event 519 KS3 and Upwards Second Level Choir
Two contrasting pieces of own choice (Unison or Parts)
Please bring a copy of your chosen pieces for the Adjudicator.
SECOND LEVEL – SOLO VOCAL
Event 520 Year 8 Girls Solo
The Kangaroo (Alec Rowley/Doris Rowley)
Event 521 Year 8 Boys Solo
The Kangaroo (Alec Rowley/Doris Rowley)
Event 522 Year 9 & 10 Girls Solo
The Gartan Mother's Lullaby (Saosamh Mac Cathmhoil)
Event 523 Year 9 & 10 Boys Solo
Windy Nights (Charles Villiers Stanford)
Event 524 Year 11 & 12 Girls Solo
My Mother Bids Me Bind My Hair - 2 verses (Haydn/ John Hunter.)
Event 525 Year 11 & 12 Boys Solo
All in the April Evening (Tynan/ Roberton)
Event 526 Year 13 & 14 Girls and Boys Solo
The House and the Road (Peabody/ Parke)
Event 527 Year 8– 14 Sacred Solo
A piece of own choice from the Sacred repertoire (e.g., Mass, Cantata, Oratorio).
May be sung in the original language or in translation.
Event 528 Year 8– 14 Operatic Solo
An aria or arietta from an Opera or Operetta. A recitative may be included. May be sung in the original language or in translation.
Competitors must introduce their performance, stating the title of the work, the name of their character, the piece that they will sing, and its dramatic context. Costume and props are optional.
Event 529 Year 8, 9 & 10 Art Song
Event 530 Year 11 & 12 Art Song
Event 531 Year 13 & 14 Art Song
One piece from the Classical Music concert repertoire (lied, chanson, etc.) May be sung in the original language or in translation. Folk song arrangements such as those by Herbert Hughes or Benjamin Britten will be accepted.
Official accompanist must be used.
SONGS FROM THE SHOWS
Event 532 Up to Year 7 Songs From The Shows
Event 533 Years 8-10 Songs From The Shows
Event 534 Years 11 & 12 Songs From The Shows
Event 535 Years 13 & 14 Songs From The Shows
Event 569 Over 18 years Songs From The Shows (NEW COMPETITION)
Competitors perform one song from a Stage Musical (NOT FILM). They must introduce their performance, stating the title of the musical, the name of their character, and the title of the song they will sing. Costume and props are optional.
Official accompanist must be used.
THOMAS MOORE'S MELODY
Event 536 Up to Year 7 Thomas Moore’s Melody
Event 537 Year 8 & Over Thomas Moore’s Melody
Competitors should perform at least two verses from one of Thomas Moore’s Melodies.
POPULAR SONG
Event 570 Popular Song Up to Year 7
Event 538 Popular Song Year 8 - 10 Popular Song
Event 539 Popular Song Year 11 & over Popular Song
Any genre, pop, rock, jazz, etc. All pieces must be by an original, recognised artist. No self-compositions accepted. Accompaniment must be provided for Popular Song. This can be a digital backing track, use of instruments such as piano or guitar or acapella, or the official accompanist. If using the official accompanist, sheet music must be submitted by the 7th April.
VOCAL ENSEMBLE
Event 540 Year 8 & upwards Vocal Ensemble
A vocal duet, trio, quartet, etc. (Own choice).
Event 543 Open to all. A Gilbert & Sullivan Competition
Competitors, solo or ensemble, will perform a piece from a G&S operetta.
SPECIAL AWARDS
Event 544 The Dolores McBrien Cup and Bursary
Competitors, aged 16 and over, must have been 1st, 2nd or 3rd solo prize winners in two of the past five gatherings of West Tyrone Feis, and will perform two contrasting songs or instrumental pieces of own choice which have not been performed by them at the current Feis or included in the current syllabus. The adjudicator may wish to interview the competitors. A bursary of £200 will be awarded to the winner for expenditure on further musical tuition as agreed with the Feis committee. The cup is presented by Mr Kieran McBrien in memory of his wife and the bursary is presented by the Feis committee.
Event 545 The Nora Torney Cup
The solo cup winners from Events 527 – 537 & 569 will be invited to compete for this cup by singing their winning song. Where a competitor has won more than one cup, he/she will choose one song only for this event.
INSTRUMENTAL SOLO
COMPETITORS MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN MUSIC STAND AND ACCOMPANIMENT
Competitors should play music from any recognised Examination Board’s current syllabus.
Beginners to Grade 3 should perform one piece and Grade 4 to Grade 8 should perform two pieces.
Please bring a copy of your chosen piece/s for the Adjudicator.
KEYBOARD
Event 546 Level 1a - Beginners/Grade 1
Event 547 Level 1b - Grades 2 & 3
Event 548 Level 2 - Grades 4 & 5
Event 549 Level 3 & Diploma - Grade 6 upwards
STRINGS
Event 550 Level 1a - Beginners/Grade 1
Event 551 Level 1b - Grades 2 & 3
Event 552 Level 2 - Grades 4 & 5
Event 553 Level 3 & Diploma - Grade 6 upwards
WOODWIND
Event 554 Level 1a - Beginners/Grade 1
Event 555 Level 1b - Grades 2 & 3
Event 556 Level 2 - Grades 4 & 5
Event 557 Level 3 & Diploma - Grade 6 upwards
BRASS
Event 558 Level 1a-Beginners/Grade 1
Event 559 Level 1b - Grades 2 & 3
Event 560 Level 2 - Grades 4 & 5
Event 561 Level 3 & Diploma - Grade 6 upwards
GUITAR
Event 562 Level 1a-Beginners/Grade 1
Event 563 Level 1b - Grades 2 & 3
Event 564 Level 2 - Grades 4 & 5
Event 565 Level 3 & Diploma - Grade 6 upwards
INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE
Two pieces of music (own choice). Any combination of instruments.
Please bring a copy of chosen pieces for the Adjudicator.
Event566 Primary
Event567 Second Level KS3
Event568 Second Level KS4
Adjudicator: Richard Yarr MBE DL M.Mus (LOND) B. Mus FRSA
Richard Yarr is one of Northern Ireland’s best-known Arts professionals: an award-winning Music and Arts producer with the BBC; a recognised innovator in the sector; and the recipient of a National Honour – an MBE for Services to Music. He is also a Deputy Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast.
Richard has substantial experience of leading local government committees and charities. He is Chairperson of the Charles Wood Festival of Music & Summer School; Artistic Director of the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition, which he founded in 2011; a Music Advisor for CCEA (The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment, NI) and Director of Music in Belfast’s oldest place of worship. Last year he was appointed Board Member of the Arts Council of Ireland on a 5-year term. He is also Music Fellow at Lichfield Cathedral School in Staffordshire and Patron of both the Northern Ireland Young Musician of the Year Competition and the Lagan Festival of Speech, Drama, Music & Art.
Richard co-ordinated the BBC's national coverage of Derry~Londonderry UK City of Culture in 2013 and, as a strong advocate of Arts partnerships, created BBC Northern Ireland’s School Choir of the Year Competition in 2015 – a partnership between the BBC, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the National Youth Choir of Northern Ireland. He is an experienced and sought-after adjudicator, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Freeman of the City of London.
Accompanist: Gerard Bradley
Gerard Bradley from Strabane, Co Tyrone leads a full and diverse life in Music making. His day time job was until 18 months ago, Head of Music at Loreto Girls Grammar School, Omagh.
It was there, over 31 years, that he has fostered a deep love of all things Choral, training all 3 choirs including the ‘Senior’ which has won top awards both Nationally and twice internationally at Prague ‘Young Bohemia’ festival. During his time here Gerard has regularly collaborated in large scale Choral ventures including various concert Requiems! From 2005 Gerard did a 10 year stint as music director for LMS.
In 2014 Gerard formed the award winning Strabane Camber Choir.
This choir are now competing at National level having had wins in both Derry and Sligo National sections in 2018 and Navan 2019/ 22/23
Gérard also has continued to play piano in multiple productions and also continues with his role as pianist in Jazz Gazette, a quartet he formed way back in 1985.
Gerard for most of his life also played Tuba in Strabane Concert Brass reaching and competing in, the European Championship on 5 occasions.
He is currently engaged professionally as official piano accompanist for Grade exam students; Omagh and Fermanagh.