What a treat to see the recorder represented in the woodwind category for the third year running!

Congratulations to Polly Bartlett who is also an accomplished oboe player who thrilled the audience with her “very competent and polished performance”.

In her pre-performance chat she explained why the recorder appeals to her with its “amazing repertoire from early Baroque to really modern stuff”.  Also “there are five different types of recorder, and that’s not an opportunity that you might get with other instruments”.

Her performance featured descant, treble and sopranino recorders and she was complemented by one of the judges on her mixture of repertoire playing music spanning four centuries.

Polly commented, “I do want people to realise that the recorder is a proper instrument, and you can play so much repertoire; it’s so versatile and that’s what I’m really passionate about”.

In the verdict after the performance Clemency Burton-Hill commented, “really charismatic, such a joy to watch, so musical.  She absolutely had the audience in the palm of her hand, really communicating with us and showing us what the recorder is capable of in all its myriad glory”.

And congratulations to all the players, who were brilliant, and especially to the winner of the woodwind section on saxophone, Jess Gillam!