EXCEPTIONAL musical expertise has seen some of the highest marks awarded in this year’s latest performances at Swindon Music Festival.

Neil Gonsalves was awarded an impressive 91 marks for his performance in the Piano Solo 9 and under category on Tuesday evening - taking him in to the outstanding category of the marking scheme.

Joshua Mannacherry was awarded 89 marks for his performance, making him the winner of the Piano Solo 7 and under category, while Tabitha Mitchener’s performance in the Piano Solo Grade 2 category earned her 89 marks to be named the winner of that category, which saw her awarded The Florence Hawkins Cup.

Andrew and Emily Sewell both took to the piano and were awarded 88 marks for their performance in the Piano Duet 9 and under category, while Naomi and Rosie Porter scored 87 to win the Piano Duet 11 and under performances.

The pair were joined by Lydia Rungasamy for the Piano Trio 11 and under performance, seeing them win another title with 88 marks.

The Maureen Barkham Trophy was presented to Cameron Chong for winning the Piano Solo Grade 1 category with 89 marks, while Christina Kwong won The Dennis Stow Trophy in the Piano Sonata Solo 16 and under category after being awarded 88 marks.

Elizabeth Lai demonstrated her memory skills by winning the Solo to be played from memory 16 and under category with 87 marks.

Scarlett O’Brien and Heidi Blunt also scored 87 marks in the Piano Duet 13 and under category, while The Gordon Talbot Trophy was awarded to Philip Mercado who won the Modern Popular Piano Solo 16 and under categroy with 89 points.

The winner of the Piano Solo 13 and under category - and subsequently The Jennifer Allen Trophy - was Naveen Navaratne with 90 marks, while Elizabeth Lai scored 89 points to win the Piano Solo 16 and under category and The Beatrice Cripps Memorial Cup.

The Muriel Amor Intermediate Bach Trophy was presented to Zoe Tan who was awarded 90 marks in the Piano Baroque Solo 16 and under, while Celine Heath won the Instrumental Concerto any age performances with her score of 83.

Niamh Potter scored 87 marks in the Instrumental Recital 16 and under category to win The Swindon Recital Series Junior Trophy, while Peter McLoughlin’s 86 marks saw him named the winner of the Strings Grade 8 and over any age performances.

The Swindon Recorder Players won the The SYM Ensemble Trophy after scoring 87 marks in the Instrumental Ensemble any age category, with Jennifer Clare winning the Recorder Solo up to and including Grade 1 with her score of 84 marks.

The Recorder Solo - Grades 3-4 was won by Bonny Robins who scored 85, with Stephen Kwong winning the Recorder Solo - Grades 7-9 with 84 marks.

Celine Heath won the Strings Grades 7-8 perfromances with a mark of 83.

Festival secretary Yvonne Walker said: “It was another day of amazing performances from the young people of Swindon and district.

“Two performers attained 90 - the outstanding category for exceptional performance technically and artistically.”