Organisers of Wootton Bassett arts event celebrate (From Swindon Advertiser)

Organisers of Wootton Bassett arts event celebrate

Organisers hailed Wootton Bassett Arts Festival as a resounding success after they had their biggest ever turnout of musical talent.

Miranda Shirnia with Joanna Peskett, winner of the Sheila Dunn and Sheila Harrod trophy

The four-day event saw numerous people taking part in musical workshops including piano, choir, modern pop songs, brass, woodwind and folk.

It culminated with a sell-out concert at the Memorial Hall on Sunday.

Festival committee chairman Miranda Shirnia said: “We were really pleased that our entry numbers went up again.

“We knew that other festivals have been struggling and just to stand still would have been great, but to have more people taking part was lovely. We had some wonderful performances from outstanding pianists to singers.

“It was lovely and some of them were highly accomplished musicians, but we also like to encourage people who are at the beginning of their musical journey, so we put on ‘just for fun’ music classes.”

Particularly commended acts include pianist Lewis Sayle, folk and pop singer Joanna Peskett and piano playing duo Akane and Yurika Gonda, who Mrs Shirnia described as “just incredible”.

Ellendune Community Choir won the chairman’s cup for the most outstanding performance of the festival.

Mrs Shirnia, who has been committee chairman for a year, said: “They were so entertaining. They performed several songs and sang them wonderfully.

“They were good fun and encouraged the crowd to join in. It was great to end on.”

The next stage of the festival takes place in November and will feature classes in arts, short film, speech, drama, creative writing, guitar and photography.

Places are now available and people can enter up until September 30 through www.wbaf.co.uk