Auspicious start for arts festival- St Maraget’s School students Gabi, Caitlin, Sarah, Laura a

By Jade Lawton
BERWICK’S inaugural South Eastern Arts Festival has been deemed a ‘resounding success’ with more than 700 musicians and artists showcasing their talents over the last few weeks.
Secretary Angela Patti said the festival, run by a small committee of volunteers, had exceeded expectations.
“On one of the Saturdays, we had three sections running simultaneously – competitive and non-competitive piano and strings. All were really popular,” she said.
“Even though the committee is small, family, friends and music lovers rallied to the cause to help with the running of sections.
“We had been overwhelmed by the generosity of local people in their support of this festival.”
Ms Patti said the judge had commented that some of the children played the piano in the 11 to 13-years-old section better than music students in university.
Local school choirs dominated the choir competition, with Berwick Primary School, winning the primary section and St Margaret’s School taking the secondary ribbon.
St Margaret’s also won the Heriot Cup, a perpetual trophy to honour the contribution of musician and choir conductor Jean Heriot.
St Margaret’s Director of Music, Christine Cochrane, said the school was proud to have hosted the first festival.
“It was a wonderful event which brought more music and art into our local community,” she said.
Ms Cochrane said the fact that the school also won the Heriot Cup for the best overall choral singing in the festival was a bonus for the singers, as Mrs Jean Heriot was the first director of Music at St Margaret’s. Mrs Heriot brought much choral singing to the area through her work at the school and the introduction of the well-known Berwick Youth Choir, she said.
“We are thrilled to have been awarded this prize for the first festival.”
The festival concluded at Dandenong’s Drum Theatre on 19 April.
Casey councillor and arts patron Wayne Smith praised the efforts of the festival’s committee at last week’s council meeting.
“They are very enthusiastic and in their first year had over 700 entries…which is unheard of in the first year of a festival,” he said.
Cr Smith contributed $669 in ward funds to next year’s festival to sponsor some of the smaller categories.