The festival, which is run entirely by a team of dedicated volunteers, took place at venues including Carlisle Cathedral and St Cuthbert's church.

It sees people of all ages perform and compete in a huge variety of categories, from drama performances to musical recitals.

Avril Tisdall, chair of the festival, said that while many other such festivals struggle to attract both entrants and volunteers, the Carlisle & District Music and Drama Festival continues to be an eagerly anticipated annual event which receives strong support from the local community. 

"Despite being a competition, there is a friendly buzz around the two performance venues, and a mixture of excitement and anticipation in the air," she said.

Benjamin Wright, under 12, guitar (Image: Alan Sawyer)

"Our professional adjudicators offer advice and encouragement in abundance, always looking to nurture development and help performers relax and excel.

"Old and young alike much enjoy listening to others perform and learning from the verbal feedback offered specifically and generally."

The impact of the Covid pandemic is still having some impact, she said, with several choirs or bands still not back together for example, and lack of lessons for over a year affecting some youngsters.

Carlisle Youth Concert Band (Image: Alan Sawyer)

But generally, Ms Tisdall said that entry numbers are holding up and standards are rising again.

"The value of the arts is well documented," she added.

"The dedication and self discipline practice required to achieve a high performance standard - and the self-confidence developed through performing - are but two examples of this value, which have  been very much in evidence throughout the week.”

Austin Friars under 8s do action songs. (Image: Alan Sawyer)

Major Trophies - Memorial Scholarships [presented by the Mayor of Carlisle]

Speech & Drama Classes

• The Molly Wilson Memorial Cup for an Outstanding Performance in Verse-Speaking - Stanwix School Year 4
• The Joe Wallace Memorial Salver for an Outstanding Performance in Acting - Kate Wilson, Penrith, BYSD
• The Doreen Smith Trophy for an Outstanding Performance in Reading - Christine Phillips, Carlisle
• The Lancelyn Green Trophy awarded by the adjudicator for a performance worthy of note - Niamh Marshall, Lime House School
• The Cumberland Building Society Cup for the Most Promising Performer in 2024 - John Dickson, Alston Moor Federation
• The Dr Kenneth Pickering Memorial Trophy presented by Louise Lewis for an Outstanding Performance in Dialogue Acting - Arianna Mameli and Isobella Keenan, BYSD
• The John lishman Memorial Trophy presented by Kate Lishman for an Outstanding Performance in Junior Acting - Willow Harrison, Alston Moor Federation
• The Wendy le Huray Memorial Trophy presented by Carys Lewis for an Outstanding Performance in Junior Verse-Speaking - Lily Monk, Austin Friars

Niamh Marshall, presented an award by the mayor of Carlisle (Image: Alan Sawyer)

Norman Street Junior School Choir, presented their award by the mayor of Carlisle (Image: Alan Sawyer)

Music Classes

• Franklin Memorial Cup for most promising competitor in classes 601, 602, 621, 622, 641 - Micaela Gerhard
• George Taylor Memorial Trophy for highest mark in any brass class - Ranulph Turton
• Prelude Guitar Shield for most musical performance in any guitar class - Benjamin Wright
• Ethel Hogarth Memorial Cup for most promising competitor in classes 603, 604, 610, 623, 624, 630, 642, 643, 650, 660 - Joseph Alban
• Susan Armorel Beeby Memorial Trophy for Violoncello playing - Bethany Warren
• Molly Wilson Trophy for Best All-Round Female Vocalist - Laura Postlethwaite
• Dr F Wadely Cup for Best All-Round Male Vocalist - Robert Anson
• Silver Cup presented by John Abba for the highest mark in any pianoforte class - Allan Zeng
• The Ronmar Trophy presented by the Ronmar School of Music for highest mark in any instrumental class [not orchestra or band] - Allan Zeng
• Joe Wallace Memorial Salver for the winner with highest mark in classes 265-275 - Laura Postlethwaite
• Austin Friars PTA Trophy for a performance worthy of note by a primary school individual or group - Norman Street School
• Lanercost Festival Trophy for the most inspiring choral performance presented by Marilynne Davis - Sempre Amabile
• Michael Hancock Bursary for any any instrumentalist aged 18 and under who gave most inspiring performance of the festival - Allan Zeng
• Bowman Medal and Scholarship for Most Promising Young Singer [16 and over] - Charlotte Thomson
• Sam Bellingham Memorial Trophy for highest mark in classes 230, 232, 233, 241, 244 - Jack Milburn
• Cumberland News Trophy for highest mark in classes 260, 261, 265, 273, 275 - Laura Postlethwaite
• Lanercost Festival Trophy for highest mark in any woodwind class - Nicholas Howard
• Lanercost Trophy for Carlisle's Young Musician of the Year - Allan Zeng

Sempre Amabile presented with an award (Image: Alan Sawyer)

Festival Results - 1st Places

Speech & Drama Classes

• Solo verse speaking [Girls 9 years] - Faye Beaty
• Solo verse speaking [Boys 9 years] - Callum Fegan
• Choric verse speaking [Primary Schools] - Stanwix School, Year 4
• Choric prose speaking [Primary Schools] - Austin Friars
• Solo verse speaking [Girls 7 years] - Marnii-Jay Young
• Solo verse speaking [Boys 7 years] - Fred Turley
• Prose reading [14 and under] - Isabella Walby
• Prose reading [open] - Hannah Mead
• Solo verse speaking [open] - Zoe Cheng
• Solo verse reading [open] - Christine Phillips
• Solo verse reading Wordsworth [open] - Christine Phillips
• Solo verse reading Norman Nicholson [open] - Christine Phillips
• Solo verse speaking [Girls 14 and under] - Isabella Walby
• Solo verse speaking [Boys 14 and under] - Henry Webley
• Speech solo [14 and under] - Henry Webley
• Speech solo [open] - James Cooper
• Bible reading [14 and under] - Henry Webley
• Bible reading [open] - Christine Phillips
• Solo verse speaking [Girls 8 years] - Jorgia Kerr
• Solo verse speaking [Boys 8 years] - George Waning
• Duologue, not costume [11 and under] - Emma Carp and Tate Bullimore
• Short Dramatic Scene, solo, not costume [14 and under] - Willow Harrison
• Short Dramatic Scene, solo, not costume [open] - James Cooper
• Shakespeare solo, not costume [14 and under] - Adam Marchant
• Shakespeare solo, not costume [open] - Kate Wilson
• Solo verse speaking [Boys and girls 5 and under] - Timur Mehmed
• Solo verse speaking [Girls 5 years] - Dottie Tucker
• Solo verse speaking [Boys 5 years] - Mirco Winter
• Prose reading [9 and under] - Louisa Holliday
• Solo verse speaking [Girls 11 years] - Lily Monk
• Solo verse speaking [Boys 11 years] - Finley Waning
• Bible reading [11 and under] - Finley Waning
• Duologue, not costume [14 and under, play] - Arianna Mameli & Isobella Keenan
• Solo verse speaking [Girls 10 years] - Harriet Ryding
• Solo verse speaking [Boys 10 years] - Charlie Irwin
• Prose reading [11 and under] - Megan Thomson
• Spoken word challenge - St Bede's School
• Prose reading [7 and under] - Layla Connor
• Duologue, not costume [11 and under, poem] - Adam Horn & Katy Horn

Luisa Bandoni, Dramatic Scene, Under-15 (Image: Alan Sawyer)

Anna Morley, Woodwind, 15-18 (Image: Alan Sawyer)

Robert Anson (Image: Alan Sawyer)

Naoise O'Dea & Ahana George, Cats Duet (Image: Alan Sawyer)

Music Classes

• Violin solo [10 and under] - Sophie Lee-Bolson
• Violin solo [11 and 12 years] - Phoebe Evans
• Violin solo [13 and 14 years] - Joseph Alban
• Violin solo [15 to 18 years] - Julia Kwiatkowska
• Viola solo [11 and 12 years] - Charlotte Flynn
• Viola solo [13 and 14 years] - Anna Cunningham
• Viola solo [15 to 18 years] - Charlotte Farrimond
• Violoncello solo [12 and under] - Bethany Warren
• Brass solo [11 and 12 years] - Adam Stevens
• Brass solo [13 and 14 years] - James Farrer
• Brass solo [15 to 18 years] - Ranulph Turton
• Woodwind solo [10 and under] - Niamh Lees
• Woodwind solo [11 and 12 years] - Drew Cunningham
• Woodwind solo [13 and 14 years] - Lauren Steele
• Woodwind solo [15 to 18 years] - Anna Morley
• Brass ensemble [open] - Oompah Funf
• Recital solo [open, any instrument] - Allan Zeng
• Organ solo [open] - Ernestine Koo
• Pianoforte solo [8 and under] - Bethany Don
• Pianoforte solo [9 and 10 years] - Mia Synman
• Pianoforte solo [9 and under] - Lynsey Shiyu Wang
• Pianoforte solo [10 to 12 years] - Joshua Towner
• Pianoforte solo [13 and 14 years] - Alexander Bell
• Pianoforte solo [15 to 18 years] - Isabella Briggs
• Pianoforte duet [13 and under] - Laiya Boyko & Lexi Tilly
• Pianoforte solo [open] - Allan Zeng
• Woodwind solo [open] - Nicholas Howard
• Instrumental composition [19 and under] - Tamsin Crook
• Junior choirs [Primary schools, 35 children or more] - Norman Street Choir
• Boys vocal solo [9 and under] - Simon Fisher
• Girls vocal solo [9 and under] - Jorgia Kerr
• Boys vocal solo [11 and under] - Evan Bailey-Tupper
• Junior choirs [Primary schools, 12-35 children] - Melodic Minor, Wreay
• Girls vocal solo [11 and under] - Annie Alban
• Choirs [open, 12 or more singers] - Sempre Amabile
• Choirs, Sacred [open, 12 or more singers] - Sempre Amabile
• Youth choirs, other than schools - Carlisle Cantate Children's Choir
• Vocal ensembles [open] - Amici
• Junior vocal solo [13 and under] - Elspeth Green
• Songs from the Shows [Junior Solo, 13 and under] - Charlie Irwin
• Senior choirs [Secondary schools] - William Howard School
• Vocal duets [any voice, 11 to 18 years] - Kiera Nixon, Luisa Bandoni
• Junior folk song [11 to 18 years without acc.] - Amy MacPherson
• Songs from the Shows [Junior Solo, 14 to 18 years] - Jack Milburn
• Instrumental ensemble [Senior schools] - Joe & Martha Alban, Phoebe Brant, Chloe Horsley
• Orchestra class [Senior schools] - Cockermouth School
• Orchestra class [open] - Cockermouth School
• Recorder solo [open] - Matilda Bridgman
• Percussion solo [11 and under] - Imogen Marchant
• Instrumental duet [Senior school] - Tiegan Lowthian & Phoebe Evans
• Dance band or Concert band [open] - Border Concert Band
• Ladies' vocal solo - Pat Nelson
• Operatic solo - Laura Postlethwaite
• Oratorio or sacred song solo - Charlotte Thompson
• Men's vocal solo - Martin Johnson
• Victorian/Edwardian ballad - Pat Nelson
• Folk song solo - Martin Ulyatt
• Gilbert & Sullivan - Martin Ulyatt
• Spirituals solo - Pat Nelson
• Vocal duet [open] - Barbara Gibson & Simon Mortimer
• Traditional Scottish song solo - Martin Johnson
• British composer vocal solo - Laura Postlethwaite
• Lieder class - Piano: Fiona Weakley, Singer: Laura Postlethwaite
• Songs from the Shows solo - Zach Ealey