Welcome to
Wharfedale Festival of Performing Arts
The Official Wharfedale Festival of Performing Arts website
held annually since 1900
An Inclusive Music and Drama Festival
After our most enjoyable and successful 2024 Performing Arts events , we are delighted to announce that the Wharfedale Festival will be returning in May and November 2025 for the 119th Festival. We hope that we will be able to welcome back many past participants as well as some new ones.
The Festival gives both adults and children a fantastic opportunity to display their skills and talents in the field of Performing Arts. Our thanks, as always, goes to all our performers, their teachers, relatives and friends of the Festival for their continued support.
2025 Syllabus
Piano Syllabus will be Published APRIL 2025
Music Syllabus will be Published January 2025
wharfedale festival of performing arts 2025 – speech & drama and music between 6th May and 9th may with the Piano Section between 11th – 13th November
held annually since 1900
support the festival
If you are able to support the Festival by becoming a “Friend” there are various ways to help us. All Friends of the Festival receive an acknowledgement in the Festival Programme and a free copy.
- Make a donation to contribute to the costs of the Festivals
Any amount
- Sponsor a Class in either the Speech and Drama / Music
or Piano Festival £40
(You will receive free entry into the relevant class and session )
- Sponsor a Day in either the Speech and Drama / Music
or Piano Festival £100
(You will receive free entry for all classes and sessions on that day)
CHRISTINA THOMSON - CHOIRS AND MUSIC
Christina studied horn, piano, and singing at the Royal Academy of Music.
A career in Bavaria followed, playing and teaching. She returned to London to perform and joined the music departments of Harrow and the Purcell School.
In 1991 she moved to Yorkshire where she taught at Ripon Cathedral Choir School, Sedbergh and Ampleforth College, as well as being a player, specialising in chamber music. She had an extensive private teaching practice encompassing the ages of 5 to 85!
She was a brass mentor for the Associated Board’s professional development course.
Now, as well as being an Adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals, she is a national and international examiner for the ABRSM.
Countries she has worked in include Europe, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam , Malaysia, India, South Africa, Thailand and the USA.
EVA MARIA DOROSZKOWSKA - PIANO
Eva Maria is an international pianist whose dramatic and colourful interpretations have earned her high acclaim.
She enjoys a busy teaching and performing schedule which takes her round the world. She has appeared on BBC and Polish television and radio.
A keen interest in contemporary music, she has worked with two of the 20th Century’s finest compsers, Gorecki and Per Norgard.
Eva is passionate about chamber music and enjoys giving masterclasses and workshops. She mentors for Young Talents and has been teaching at the Royal Academy Junior Department since 2001. She has enjoys a varied life as soloist, chamber musician and accompanist and has performed at The Royal Oepra House, St Martins in the Fields, Tivoli , Copenhagen and at the Buszko - Zroj Summer festival. She won a scholarship to study with Professor Jasinski at the Katowice Szymanowski Academy in Poland, also studying in Amsterdam, Holland and a travel bursary for Soloist Class in Copenhagen. She won a scholarship for her undergraduate studies at the Royal Northern where she completed both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
Alongside her performing, teaching and adjudication work, Eva Maria has worked closely with Alexander Technique for the last 15 years and is a freelance music journalist for International Piano.
Get in touch with us
We'd Love to hear from you
For any general enquiries, please do reach out and contact our team.
Winners and Rewards
2025 Results
Winners in Individual Classes WFPA, May 2025
| Winners in Individual Classes - WFPA, May 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Verse Speaking, Year 4 | W. Ashar Masenda | 2. Isabella Hartley | 3. Sienna Lowry, Isabelle Read, Evie Marsden. |
| Verse Speaking, Year 6 | W. Danniella Pinkney | 2. Douglas Hartley | 3. Rose Dhalla, Edward Brook. |
| Prepared Prose Reading ,Year 5 | W. Henry Churcher | 2. Olivia Rix, Sebastian Collins. | |
| Verse Speaking ,Year 3 | W. Florence Churcher | 2. Barnaby Morpeth Read | 3. Sasha Wilkinson |
| Verse Speaking, Year 5 | W. Henry Churcher | 2. Romeo Devereux, Sebastian Collins | 3. Cameron Mackie, Layla Young, Max Moody, Josh Dhalla, Prue Griffiths, Isla Wilkinson, Isla Walker. |
| Memorised Prose, Year 3 | W. Olivia Freeman | 2. Florence Churcher. | |
| Prepared Prose Reading, Year 6 | W. Frances Impey | 2. Sophie Pickles | 3. William Leeming. |
| Prepared Prose Reading, Year 4 | W. Evie Marsden | 2. Grayson Chamley | 3. Isabella Hartley, Charlie Marsden, Laura Schmidt |
| Verse Speaking. No Age Limit | W.David Cullis | 2. Romany Branston, Richard Barter | 3. David G. Smith |
| Solo Shakespeare. No Age Limit | W. David Cullis | 2. Richard Barter | 3. Ellie Malone |
| Solo Characterisation. Year 7 and Under | W.Matilda Jarman | 2. Jay Harrison | 3. Lily Hawkins, Anna Sterne, Ewan Donaldson |
| Duologue. No Age Limit | W. Isabella Withy and Oliver Briscombe | 2. Carys Peedell and Alfie Davies | 3. Molly Morrison and Jessica Cottington. |
| Prepared Prose Reading. No Age Limit | W. Richard Barter | 2. David Cullis | |
| Solo Characterisation Year 9 and Under | W. Josephine Anderson | 2. Rosa Williamson | 3. Madison Chapman, Ava Greenwood. |
| Solo Characterisation. No Age Limit | W. Alfie Davies | 2. Oliver Briscombe | 3. Richard Barter. |
| Theatre Time Year 9 and Under | W. Upstage Academy Intermediates. | ||
Individual Class Winners - May 18, 2022
| Individual Class Winners - May 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Verse Speaking Year 2 and Under A | W. Spencer Cooper | 2. Ellie Cooper | 3. Rudranch Panchal, Lewis Williamson, Harry Merifield- Perks. |
| Verse Speaking Year 2 and Under B | W. Henry Hurwood | 2. Taylor Harrison, Hannah Fawcett | 3. Annabelle Ward. |
| Memorised Prose. Year 2 | W. Erin Rix | 2. Holly McGuffie, Harriet Lamb | 3. Sam Lindley |
| Choral Speaking. Year 6 and Under | W. Askwith Primary School | ||
| 2. Performance Drama School, Burley in Wharfedale | 3. Performance Drama School, Menston. | ||
| Verse Speaking Years 7-11 | W. Elsa Baldwin. | ||
| Theatre Time Year 7 and Under | W. Upstage Academy Juniors. | ||
| Duo verse Speaking. Year 9 and Under | W. Esme Hurst and Isla Hurst | 2. Eva Lovell and Amelia Ashall | 3. Isla Bramley and Abigail Brundle, Krissy Dunn and Olivia Harrison, Emily Stenton and Poppy Simpson |
| Solo Characterisation Year 11 and Under | W. Lucas Crichton | 2. Isabella Withy | 3. Amelia Andrews, Holly Maisey. |
| Theatre Time. No Age Limit | W. Upstage Academy Seniors 2 | 2. Upstage Academy Seniors 1 | |
| Musical Theatre. No Age Limit | W. CC Dance Company. | ||
VERSE SPEAKING
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| YEAR 2 & UNDER (1A) | SPENCER COOPER |
| YEAR 2 & UNDER (1B) | HENRY HURWOOD |
| YEAR 3 | FLORENCE CHURCHER |
| YEAR 4 | ASHAR MASENDA |
| YEAR 5 | CHURCHER |
| YEAR 6 | DANNIELLA PINKNEY |
| YEARS 7-11 | ELSA BALDWIN |
| NO AGE LIMIT | DAVID CULLIS |
| DUO VERSE SPEAKING (YR 7-11) | ESME HURST & ISLA HURST |
PROSE READING
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| YEAR 2 & UNDER | ERIN RIX |
| YEAR 3 | OLIVIA FREEMAN |
| YEAR 4 | EVIE MARSDEN |
| YEAR 5 | HENRY CHURCHER |
| YEAR 6 | FRANCES IMPEY |
| NO AGE LIMIT | RICHARD BARTER |
| DUOLOGUE (NO AGE LIMIT) | ISABELLA WITHY & OLIVER BRISCOMBE |
SPEECH & DRAMA
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| SOLO CHARACTERISATION (YR 7 & UNDER) | MATILDA JARMAN |
| SOLO CHARACTERISATION (YR 9 & UNDER) | JOSEPHINE ANDERSON |
| SOLO CHARACTERISATION (YR 11 & UNDER) | LUCAS CRICHTON |
| SOLO CHARACTERISATION (NO AGE LIMIT) | ALFIE DAVIES* |
| SOLO SHAKESPEARE (NO AGE LIMIT) | DAVID CULLIS |
| CHORAL SPEAKING (YR 6 & UNDER) | ASKWITH PRIMARY SCHOOL |
| THEATRE TIME (YR 7 & UNDER) | UPSTAGE ACADEMY JUNIORS |
| THEATRE TIME (YR 9 & UNDER) | UPSTAGE ACADEMY INTERMEDIATES |
| THEATRE TIME (NO AGE LIMIT) | UPSTAGE ACADEMY SENIORS 2 |
| MUSICAL THEATRE (NO AGE LIMIT) | CC DANCE COMPANY |
MUSIC
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| JUNIOR CHOIRS (YR 4 & UNDER) | WAKEFIELD GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL (JUNIORS) |
| JUNIOR CHOIRS (YR 6 & UNDER) | QEGS LOWER SCHOOL |
| JUNIOR ENSEMBLE (YR 6 & UNDER) | MOORFIELD SCHOOL |
SPECIAL AWARDS
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| WFPA BURSARY (£300) (THE MOST PROMISING PARTICIPANT IN ALL CLASSES) | OLIVER BRISCOMBE |
| THE YORKSHIRE TELEVISION PREMIER AWARD (THE MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN THE SPEECH & DRAMA SECTION) | CARYS PEEDELL |
| THE EDITH ATKINSON TROPHY (MOST PROMISING VERSE SPEAKER) | DANNIELLA PINKNEY |
| THE MARY KILDUFF PLATE (AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMER IN THE DRAMA SECTION) | LUCAS CRICHTON |
| THE JAMES DODDING TROPHY (MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN THE THEATRE CLASSES) | ALFIE DAVIES |
| THE CO-OPERATIVE TROPHY (THE MOST COLLABORATIVE EFFORT) | UPSTAGE ACADEMY SENIORS 2 |