TALENTED MUSIC STUDENTS AT SIDCOT SCHOOL WIN SIX OUT OF EIGHT TROPHIES AT ANNUAL COMPETITION IN MEMORY OF FORMER PUPIL

An annual music competition in memory of a talented former pupil was held at Sidcot School on Saturday (Jan 26th) and raised £200 for charity.

The Catrine Basil Music Awards saw students from the 17th Century Quaker school in Winscombe compete with pupils from the Friends' School, Saffron Walden in Essex.

Sidcot Music Director Beverley King said: "The standard of musicianship seems to get better every year. It truly was a magical evening and Sidcot School won six of the eight trophies."

Catrine Basil was adopted from Guatemala and attended Sidcot Junior School when she was seven. In 2003, when she was about to take her A-Levels, the 17-year-old slipped on a narrow coastal path, fell down a cliff face and died whilst on holiday in Greece. 

Beverley added: "Catrine was a talented composer and pianist. She once gave an incredible talk about being adopted at the Dymond Speech which is an annual public speaking event held at Sidcot.

"In a joint effort to honour her memory, Catrine's mother, Malin Basil, of Brent Knoll and Sidcot School set up the award night 10 years ago for Fifth and Sixth Formers to demonstrate their musical talent."

The winner in each category was awarded money and a trophy which was designed and produced by acclaimed sculptor and former Sidcot parent Nicholas Dimbleby.

The charity supported by the competition was one close to Catrine's heart, War Child, which protects children living in the world's most dangerous war zones.

The winners were:

Jessica Harris, of Saffron Walden: Woodwind category

Caroline Green, Sidcot: Brass category

Darwin Li, Sidcot: Singing

Ben Winfield, Saffron Walden: Strings

Polina Naumova, Sidcot: Piano

Emily Coombes, Sidcot: Digital Composition

Leila-Fay Addyman, Sidcot: Original Composition

Sidcot Belles: Ensemble

For more information on Sidcot school go to www.sidcot.org.uk