IT proved to be quite a final day at the Swindon Music Festival for singer Matilda Wale.

As the 2018 festival moved to its final stretch, Matilda clearly impressed the adjudicator with barn-storming performances.

Matilda won the The Ray Howell Trophy for oratorio (including arias from major religious works), the Olive Love Trophy for opera of any period, the Audrey Hawkins Memorial Cup for 20th century British composer, the John Edwin Harwood Trophy for any voice, amateur or professional, the Janice Thompson Cup for German lieder/French chanson, the Free Church Council Challenge Cup for the senior vocal championship.

And to cap it all Matilda also won the the C S Macpherson Trophy for the supreme championship.

There was also success for Kelly McCarthy, who won the Cliff & Marie Cardis Trophy for spiritual/gospel song.

Caroline Pitt impressed in the soprano & mezzo soprano solo, and won the Cynthia Webb Challenge Trophy, while in the sacred song category, Catherine Forty won the George Snook Sacred Song Trophy.

In folk song, Lucy Jenkins won the Esther and Reginald Eatwell Trophy, Cathy Gibbs won the Joyce Cameron Trophy for contralto solo, and Bethany Durston won the Gillian Goddard Trophy for ladies voice age 17-21.

Mandy Donald and Davina Manners won the Don Oliver Memorial Trophy for the duet, and Helena Tuck took home the Georgina Evenett Recital Rose Bowl for the recital.

Friday also proved to be a very busy day for the singers, with another strong line up of performers.

It began with success in girls’ folk song – 12 and 13 for Olivia Steinhardt, who won the Ralph & Frances Summers Memorial Trophy, with the Clarry Bean Trophy going to Daisy Miles for songs from shows and films – 11 and 12.

Boys’ folk song – 11, 12 and 13 was won by Brodie Lee, while Danilel Hudson won the boys’ solo – 11 and over, earning him the Swindon Advertiser Trophy.

Duet – 12 and under was won by Emma Heal and Kody Bowler. The Sheila Marcer Trophy, for songs from shows and films – 8 and under, was won by Jayden Kaye.

The Swindon Advertiser Cup, for girls’ or boys’ solo – under 8, went to Evangelina Brannan, while Freddy Fox-Thompson took home the Alice Inwood Memorial Trophy for boys’ solo – 8, 9 and 10.

Girls’ solo – 12 and 13 was won by Olivia Steinhardt, and earned her the Doris Parsons Trophy, Matilda Blake won the Ann and Tony Donaldson Trophy for girls’ folk song – 8 and 9, while Theo Farkas-Blake’s performance in boys’ folk song – 8, 9 and 10 won him the JP Sinclair Memorial Trophy.

Natalie Chequer, Stephanie Tye and Chris Walsh impressed in groups and won the Reginald Choules Trophy, the Vera Bennett Trophy went to Olivia Tuck for songs from shows and films – 17 to under 26, and the junior vocal championship saw Harvey Cullis win the RG Cripps Challenge Trophy.

Adjudicator Andrea Calladine admitted it had been a tough competition.

Of Friday’s performances, she said: “The standard of singing was amazing. In my eyes everyone’s a winner. The standard of teaching is remarkable.”

And after Saturday she said: “I have had the most wonderful three days in Swindon. The standard of performance was very high.”

She made special mention of the festival’s official accompanist, Paul Turner, for his work playing for most of the competitors. She also praised the festival for its excellent organisation.