Bedford Girls’ School once again enjoyed an incredible week of success at the Bedford Festival of Music, Speech and Drama (3rd – 10th March 2018).

Held at Bedford Corn Exchange, BGS entered a wealth of girls into numerous Music and Speech and Drama categories, ranging from full choirs to solo singing and orchestras to oboes. Programmes included verse-speaking, mime, Shakespeare and more.

The Bedfordshire Festival is well regarded in the local area, having been founded in 1921, and providing a showcase for talent in the amateur performing arts in the county.

There was plenty of talent on show from BGS. Speech and drama entered 188 girls into 60 classes and girls awarded a total of 39 1sts, 42 2nds and 34 3rds.

In addition to the achievements throughout the week, a selection of leading performers were invited to the showpiece Gala Concert on Saturday evening. Audiences were wowed by the beautiful performances, including Emily Polhill’s (Year 8) dramatic solo performance of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, which was awarded The Jane Whitbread Cup for the best junior in Speech and Drama. Katie McDonagh (Upper Sixth) performed Getting Married Today by Sondheim and claimed The Eglinton Challenge Bowl for the best senior singing performance.

A special mention goes to Lucy Barrett (Year 7), who won a glut of prizes: her solo flute performance of Orange Dawn by Ian Clarke, which claimed The Swan Hotel Rose Bowl for the best musical performance and the coveted Woodfine Lousada Prize for the most outstanding musical performance at the Gala Concert.

Eight BGS pupils amongst others won The Borough of Bedford Challenge Bowl for the best senior speech and drama performance. Performers included Mia Brittle (Upper Sixth), Olivia Kemp (Lower Sixth), Megan Cameron-Fraser (Year 11), Georgia Spriggs (Year 11), Sophie Parry (Year 11), Olivia Benjamin (Year 11), Samantha Muzanenhamo (Year 10) and Ella Turner (Year 10).

Such success is testament not merely to the wealth of arts talent at BGS but also to the hard work and dedication of all the girls who took part.