YOUNG stalwart supporter of Skipton Music Festival, cellist Ben Finlay, of Skipton, will go on to musical pastures new clutching his "outstanding award".

Ben, who has been a long-time performer at the festival, which this year ran from March 13 to March 18 at Skipton Town Hall, was awarded the President's prize and later this year he takes up his place at the Royal Academy of Music.

For her performance in the 13 years and under solo recital class, Cara Woods, of Ilkley, came away in possession of the Ann Ware trophy, an 18th century copperplate engraving in memory of the woman who ran the festival for 30 years and died in 2013.

Last year she won the award for the most promising pianist and later this year she will represent Skipton at the regional championships on September 9 in Pontefract.

And Selina Pickles, of Lothersdale, took home the Grassington Festival trophy for stage presence for her performance in the Songs from the Shows class.

She was awarded an "outstanding" grade for her rendition of "The Last Midnight" from the Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine musical "Into the Woods."

Seven years-old Lucinda Leeming of Moorfield School, Ilkley, sang "Castle on a Cloud" from Les

Miserables in the new junior vocal non-competitive class.

"We introduced this class to encourage youngsters to perform without first having to deal with competition. It's important for building up confidence in appearing in front of an audience," said Jill Wright, festival secretary.

"We were slightly down in numbers on last year but it was still an outstanding final show on Saturday. Our aim is to encourage more people to take part and plan to make our profile higher especially in schools."

Results.

Monday, March 13.

'On stage' junior class, year 7 and under: 1, Menston; 2, Burley Two; 3, Burley Three. 'On stage' intermediate year 11 and under: 1, Burley Three; 2 Otley.

Tuesday, March 14.

Recorder group year five and under: 1, Water Street, Skipton. Recorder group year seven and under: 1, Water Street school, Skipton; 2, Moorfield Recorder Group. Descant recorder solo year five and under: 1, Ellie Fishwick; 2, Sofia Hoeg; 3, Jemima Crebbin. Descant recorder solo year seven and under: 1, Lachlan Wills; 2, Sofia Hoeg; 3, Bella McDonald. Treble recorder solo year seven and under: 1, Shurudi Selvarajah. Recorder duet year seven and under: 1, Jessica Holme and Maggie Hudson; 2, Shurudi Selvarajah and Abigail Turvey; 3, Shurudi Selvarajah and Amber Vokes-Tilley. Piano solo year five and under: 1, Lois Skelton; 2, Amelia West; 3, Steven Kong. Composer class year 13 and under: 1, Ben Finley; 2, Caitlin Mitchell; 3, Max Walker and Lauren Plunkett. Composer class year nine and under: 1, Jacob Lockyer; 2, Sergei Shved; 3, Bridget Longrigg and Finley Stewart. Woodwind solo year 13 and under: 1, Eleanor Hydleman: 2, Caitlyn Mitchell and Abbie Pascoe. Woodwind solo year 11 and under: 1, Hamish Wills; 2, David Cunningham; 3, Lauren Plunkett and Max Walker. String solo year 13 and under: 1, Ben Finley; 2, Alicia Hartley; 3, James Uttley and Rebecca Stapleton. String solo year 11 and under: 1, James Uttley; 2, Rebecca Stapleton and Caitlyn Mitchell.

Wednesday March 15.

Piano solo year seven and under: 1, Ellie Koral. Piano solo year eight and under: 1, Phoebe Newall; 2, Elie Koral; 3, Aimee Oliver. String solo year nine and under: 1, James Uttley. String solo year seven and under: 1, Beth Walkden; 2, James Uttley; 3, Lucy Smith. Woodwind solo year nine and under: 1, Mollie Bratt. Woodwind solo year seven and under: 1, Jessica Holme; 2, Shurudi Selvarajah.

Thursday March 16.

Piano solo year six and under: 1, Helen Mwasumbi; 2, Emma Oliver; 3, LenaDavy and Hugo Murray. Piano duet year six and under: 1, Ellie Fishwick and Martha Jackson; 2, Hugo Murray and Clara Nattress. Piano trio year six and under: 1, Jemma Crebbin, Kitty Millison and Trudie Rae; 2, Helen Mwasumbi, Emma Oliver and Emily Sutcliffe. Piano solo year nine and under: 1, Jacob Lockyer; 2, Phoebe Newall; 3 Freya Hartley. Brass solo seven years and under: 1, Thomas Laycock. Solo Brass year nine and under: 1, Samuel Laycock. Brass solo year 11 and under: 1, Matthew Loud. Contemporary class year nine and under: 1, Jacob Lockyer. Contemporary class year 13 and under: 1, Ben Cowling. Piano solo year 12 and under: 1, Abigail Pascoe; 2, Lucy Goodfellow. Piano duet year 12 and under: 1, Jasmine Gaunt and Lucy Goodfellow. Piano duet year 13 and under: 1, Toger Christiansen and Abigail Pascoe. Piano solo year 13 and under: 1, Jed Boye. Songs of the shows year 13 and under: 1, Selina Pickles; 2, Kate South; 3, Faye Bowness. Songs from the shows year nine and under: 1, Grace Rogers; 2, Daisey Newton; 3, Isabella Way. Folk song: 1, Faye Bowness; 2, Selina Pickles; 3, Niamh Moroney. Chorister boy-girl: 1, Gabriel Laird. British composer class boy or girl year 13 and under: 1, Selina Pickles; 2, Faye Bowness. British composer boy - girl year nine and under: Gabriel Laird. Boy and girl solo year nine and under: 1, Gabriel Laird. Folk song year nine and under: 1, Gabriel Laird. Boy and girl solo year 11 and under: 1, Gabriel Laird. Boy and girl solo year 13 and under: 1, Faye Bowness.

Friday March 17.

Small ensemble year seven and under: 1, St Andrews Mini Ringers. Small ensemble year 13 and under: 1, Abbie, Ellie, Eleanor and Olive. Instrument group year seven and under: 1, Moorfield Band; 2, Water Street. Instrumentalists. Piano accordion solo year eight and under: 1, Henry Moyns. Piano accordian solo year ten and under: 1, Tallulah Williams. Piano solo year 11 and under: 1, Jath Lee; 2, Jasmine Gaunt. Junior choir year seven and under: 1, Boyle & Petyt primary school. Solo recital year ten and under: 1, David Cunningham. Solo recital year 13 and under: 1, Cara Woods; 2, Abbie Pascoe.

Saturday March 18.

Songs from the shows, adults: 1, Glynn Morris; 2, Hilda Harrison; 3, Breda King. Light opera, adult: 1, Gillian Teague. Duet, adult: 1, Rosemary Brown and Breda King. Over 60s solo, adult: 1, Malcolm Buncher; 2, Glynn Morris; 3 Breda King. Victorian or Edwardian song, adult: 1, Glynn Morris. Solo voice and accompaniment: 1, Breda King. Folk song, adult: 1, Sarah Trafford; 2, Juliet Johnson; 3, Breda King. British composer: 1, Glynn Morris; 2, Breda King; 3, Malcolm Buncher. Sacred oratorio or mass: 1, Gillian Teague. Grand opera: 1, Malcolm Buncher; 2, Glynn Morris. Solo voice: 1, Breda King; 2, Glynn Morris; 3, Malcolm Buncher. Ladies choir: 1 Skipton Ladies Chamber Choir; 2, Colne Ladies Choir.