Artists hit right note in routines

On show: Haylee Bruggy, 10, of Casino, with her second place medal in the vocal and instrumental section in her first event at the Lismore Musical Festival Society’s first day of competition at Lismore City Hall.

Jacklyn Wagner

YOUNG performing artists are fine-tuning their performance pieces for the 98th Lismore Musical Festival Society’s annual eisteddfod competition.

The event opened yesterday with woodwind, string and brass instruments at the Lismore City Hall.

Sisters Sarah and Clare Johns, from McLeans Ridges, have been brushing up on their clarinet playing in the lead-up to the competition. All the practice paid off when they won several sections yesterday. They also took out top honours for a Bach duet for their age group.

Sarah, 11, said that despite this year being her second eisteddfod, she still had an attack of the nerves before performing.

“I get a little frightened before I play,” she said.

“I feel fine once I start playing though. And I get grumpy with myself if I make any mistakes.”

Clare, 9, enjoyed her first eisteddfod and said it felt good to win.

Lismore Musical Festival Society secretary Val Axtens said the competition helped lay the foundations for a future in the performing arts.

“You class it as the kindergarten of performing arts,” she said.

“It’s an excellent opportunity to share our culture, prepare for public performance and to be enriched by music, drama and dance, which are the keys to learning.”

Mrs Axtens said such performance opportunities provided invaluable skills to the performers on stage and in the audience.

“These children are learning teamwork, presentation and how to appreciate other performances,” Mrs Axtens said.

“There isn’t anyone on the world stage who hasn’t gone through something like this in their youth.”

The eisteddfod, first held in 1908, has been extended for three days and will end on September 24.