Year 12 student and talented French horn player, Charlie (Year 12), represented 91È«ÄÜ´óÉñ with distinction at the recent State Solo Championships. Spanning two days, the competition featured hundreds of entries across three age categories — U15, U19, and Open — with musicians competing in various instrument specialisations. The judging process employed closed adjudication, ensuring that performers were evaluated solely on their musical abilities, as judges remained behind a screen, free from any visual bias.
Charlie’s first triumph came on day one, competing in the Open French Horn section. He delivered an exceptional performance of Hindemith’s Horn Sonata, outshining previous winners to claim victory. On day two, Charlie continued his winning streak in the U19 French horn section, performing the first movement of Richard Strauss’ Second Horn Concerto. In a competition even more intense than the day before, Charlie secured another win. Both adjudicators praised his musicality and sophistication, qualities that set him apart in both sections.
With two section wins under his belt, Charlie advanced to the prestigious Champion of Champions events. These trophy competitions pit the winners of every instrument in each age category against one another to determine the overall champion. Although Charlie did not win the ultimate title, he performed admirably in front of a large, appreciative audience, representing both 91È«ÄÜ´óÉñ and himself with excellence.