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Welcome to the official home page of the Manx Music Festival (The Manx Competitive Music, Speech and Dance Festival to give it its full name) or "The Guild" as it is still affectionately known on the Island. The derivation of that name can be found in the information section.
The Isle of Man has very strong musical traditions and since 1892, when it was formed, The Guild, through its competitive nature, has provided motivation to improve, initially for choirs, followed by solo singing and later to a wide range of music, spoken word and dance. The climax of the Festival occurs on the final Saturday evening with the competition for the Cleveland, Ohio (USA) Manx Society's Gold Medal, donated annually by this organisation and competed for by the winners of six Special Solo classes held during the week. The Festival is a member of the British and International Federation of Festivals.
The Festival is held annually at the end of April in the recently refurbished Villa Marina on Douglas promenade. Entries close mid-February. To see the range and size of competitions check out our results section.
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View this years timetable here.
The Finals
Mezzo Soprano Mandy Griffin is the winner of this year's Cleveland Medal. At the end of Saturday evening's proceedings, guest adjudicator Jeffrey Wynn Davies praised all the finalists, but said that on this sort of occasion there was invariably a moment in one performance when those listening - including adjudicators - were moved, and knew they were experiencing something very special. For him, and those listening, it was Mandy who produced that moment in her magical performances of Bach's 'Et exultavit Spiritus Meus' from the Magnificat in D' and 'Silent Noon' by Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Earlier in the evening Mandy also won the final of the Lieder Class (the F M Cubbon Rose Bowl), contested by the winners of the six winners of the individual Lieder classes which had been held earlier in the week.
The other winners were Rachel Hopkinson who was awarded the Sheffield Plate, and Harry Galbraith and Graham Crowe who won the Billown Rose Bowl as winners of the Vocal Duets Final.
And so the Guild is over for yet another year, and we look forward to 2010. Thanks to all involved in any way in this year's Festival for your support, and especially our competitors - whether or not winners - who have given us so many magical moments during the past eight days.posted on: 05/05/2009
Saturday
Today (Saturday) sees the final day of competitions at the Manx Music Festival for 2009. The morning classes are for Folk Song (9 and under 14 years) with 46 entrants, and Character Study (under 12) for which 22 young people have entered.
The afternoon session sees four classes, all held in the Royal Hall. They are for Ladies' Choirs, Mixed Chorals, Male Voice Choirs and finally the Open Concert Class.
Finals Night starts at 7 p.m. in the Royal Hall with the competition for the Sheffield Plate, generally recognised as the junior equivalent of the Cleveland Medal Test.
Further Finals for the F M Cubbon Rose Bowl (Lieder) and the Billown Rose Bowl (Vocal Duets) follow before the climax of the week is reached when the winners of the six Special Solo Classes compete for the coveted Cleveland, Ohio (U.S.A.) Manx Society's Gold Medal.
The finals this year will be adjudicated by Jeffrey Wynn Davies.
posted on: 02/05/2009
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