BUDDING talents from St Laurence School shone at the Mid-Somerset Festival in March, picking up awards in music and drama.

Nearly 30 pupils from the Bradford on Avon school competed at the event in Bath, with the youngsters regularly achieving top three finishes and claiming first prize in ensemble categories, choral singing and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for solo acting.

“I was most proud of the fact that all the students went with the right attitude of enjoying the singing, supporting and cheering for other competitors and doing their best,” said Felicity Courage, who teaches singing at the school as well as running the Courage Youth Choir involving many school pupils.

“It was amazing work from all the choir members and a proud week for St Laurence School.”

The school’s CYC choir, consisting of 23 school pupils, performed two songs against six other school choirs and swept aside their competition to claim the silver cup.

The ensemble of Sophie Inglis, Ben Brendish, Alex Watson, Leo Nathan and ex St Laurence pupils Eliza Parrett and Izzy Carveth sang Feel The Spirit, and achieved first place, a distinction and medals.

Molly Boyce and Megan Jones sang Edelweiss to win the duo category and Luke Howe, Zachary Wardle and Jasmine Penrose won in the ensemble category with their song, Feeling Good.

Year 9 student, Ellie Beaven, claimed the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for solo acting, beating nearly 30 students over two classes and she also got a distinction for a devised drama category.

Luke continued the string of success by obtaining a distinction in the show song category and coming second. Maddie Ashley also took part in this category with a heart-warming rendition of The Sound of Music.

Evie Littlefield, who was competing at the festival for the first time, came second in her category against 17 other competitors.

Josh Howe, Milo Langley-Chappell, Evie Hossent, Abigail Holt, Rebecca Sadler and Lily Cookson, who all sang a solo show song and achieved high grades.

In the duets and trios category, Lily, Rebecca and Evie Littlefield sang Bridge over Troubled Water and Josh and Milo performed Do-Re-Mi.

The festival, founded in 1902, runs for a full fortnight each March with classes in Creative Writing, Speech & Drama, Music and Musical Theatre.