Christ’s College Music Society held its annual Recital Competition on Saturday the 19th of January in honour of their late Chairman, Charles Blackham, who sadly died in 2009.

The competition was opened in December to all students of Christ’s College, of any standard on any instrument or voice, with the opportunity to perform in front of a panel of judges for the £200 prize. The judging panel was chaired by Dr David Jones, President of Christ’s College, alongside Mark Roberts, Senior Organ Scholar, and Helen Simpkiss, Chairman of CCMS. The performance took place in the college Chapel and was followed a wine reception in the antechapel. The competition was very well attended this year, reflecting its growing profile within college.

The competition was between six candidates who performed an outstanding variety of music, with programs ranging from Chopin to Bruch to music from Haydn’s Creation. The candidates were clarinetist Charlotte Lapham, First Year; tenor David Halstead, post-graduate; violinist Charlotte Redford, first year; pianist Eleanor Wilson, third year; soprano Rachel Flynn, second year; and pianist Nathan Hudson Peacock, third year. The standard of performance was exceptionally high, and the candidates all outdid themselves, making the adjudication very difficult. Congratulations go to Eleanor Wilson, who was announced as the winner.

CCMS would like to extend their thanks to Mrs Sally Blackham, without whom the competition would not have come to fruition. The society hope to repeat the success of this recital next year, when the competition will happen again in Lent Term. Thank you to everyone who took part for providing us with such a fantastic afternoon.