Local Music Festivals

I try to support the local competitive Music Festivals...

If any of my students are interested, I'll coach them, and from time to time, I will enter with something a little off the mainstream fayre.

2019

Southampton Music Festival

Southampton Music Festival

My quartet "fusion" won the "Guitar and other instruments" category with two arrangements I made for flute, two guitars and double bass, played by Gilly Slot, Lisa Wheadon, myself and Claire Whiteside. The first was "Ballett" by Praetorius (brought into mainstream awareness by John Williams in his 1974 album), the second was "Time In A Bottle"

 

Time In A Bottle is on sale in my Downloads Shop for Flute and 4 Guitars and for Flute, 2 Guitars and Bass.

Portsmouth Music Festival

My quartet won the "Guitar and other instruments" category and the Carlos Bonell cup with three arrangements I made for flute, two guitars and double bass, played by Gilly Slot, Lisa Wheadon, myself and Claire Whiteside. The first was "Padoana Veneziana" by Vincenzo Capirola, the second was "Fields of Gold", the final one was "The Lonely Shepherd" by James Last.

 

Fields of Gold is on sale in my Downloads Shop for Flute and 4 Guitars and for Flute, 2 Guitars and Bass.

 

My student Christy came first in the Adult Grades 1-4 category, and my student Mike came second in the Adult Grades 5-8 category.

2018

Southampton Music Festival

My quartet won the "Guitar and other instruments" category and also the overall "Guitar Ensemble" category with two arrangements I made for flute, two guitars and double bass, played by Gilly Slot, Lisa Wheadon, myself and Claire Whiteside. The first was "The Feather Theme" by Alan Sylvestri from the film Forrest Gump, and the second was a piece originally for mandolin orchestra - "Driftless" by John Goodin. There's photos here...

A week later we were invited to represent the whole of the Guitar Section at the closing concert - see a video here...

Portsmouth Music Festival

My quartet won the "Guitar and other instruments" category with two arrangements I made for flute, two guitars and double bass, played by Gilly Slot, Lisa Wheadon, myself and Claire Whiteside. The first was "The Feather Theme" by Alan Sylvestri from the film Forrest Gump, and the second was a piece originally for mandolin orchestra - "Driftless" by John Goodin. There's a photo here...

 

My student Kai won the Vice Chairman's Cup for the best senior performance outside of the Recital class. Congratulations Kai!

2017

Southampton Music Festival - Gilly Slot & Derek Hasted

Southampton Music Festival

Harpsichordist Gilly Slot and I won the "Guitar and other instruments" category with a performance of Boccherini's "Introduction and Fandango", arranged by Julian Bream.

"Thank you for a wonderful, exciting, performance" - Peter Nuttall - adjudicator

Portsmouth Music Festival

Harpsichordist Gilly Slot and I won the "Guitar and other instruments" category with a performance of Boccherini's "Introduction and Fandango", arranged by Julian Bream.

"Overall a most impressive achievement..." - Carlos Bonell - adjudicator.

 

Lisa Hutchinson and I came second in the "Guitar Open Duet" category, playing Pujol's Milonga de Junio and my arrangement of "Teddy Bears' Picnic", which is on sale here....

"A most spirited performance of an excellent arrangement..." - Carlos Bonell - adjudicator

 

My student Liz won the Clarendon Cup for the best senior performance outside of the Recital class. Well done Liz!

2016

Portsmouth Music Festival

Lisa Hutchinson and I won the Vice Chairman's Cup with a performance of Maria Linnemann's "I Love You" and Walter Theissinger's "The Golden Kiss of Morning".

"A very musical and enjoyable performance..." - Vincent Lindsey-Clark - adjudicator

 

I played in the sextet "Aujevi" and won the HAGO cup with a performance of three of my compositions - "Jazz'd a Minute Waltz', "Tutu Tango" (both from Diff'rent Dances) and "Sunset" (from Springtide) which are all on sale here...

"Lovely pieces" - Vincent Lindsey-Clark - adjudicator

Selected other festivals - 2012

Portsmouth Music Festival

Lisa Hutchinson and I won the Clarendon Cup for the "best performance in the Guitar Section"

Way back (in 2001)...

Portsmouth Music Festival

The Hampshire Guitar Orchestra (which I founded and directed) won the Guitar Ensemble category.

"You really enjoyed this piece and it was reflected in the playing. Good balance and interplay between parts. Excellent rhythm, dynamic control and variety. An exciting rendition." - Adrian Neville - adjudicator

Chichester Music Festival

The Hampshire Guitar Orchestra (which I founded and directed) won the Guitar Ensemble category.

"A performance which was full of sunshine. I enjoyed this performance as much as everyone who was performing. The ensemble is very good with some very effective dynamics... overall the balance was good and very strong. Well done and Bravo!" - Mark Eden - adjudicator"