THE 42nd annual Fife Festival of Music once again proved to be a musical treat for those taking part and the audiences at the many performances.

The event, which ran earlier this month in both Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy, saw a variety of performances. 

During the first week, in Dunfermline at the Vine Conference Centre, performances were given by school students of all ages from Primary 1 to S6.

The Students showed off their well-rehearsed work and provided a great variety of music-making. Audiences and adjudicators alike were thrilled and excited by the singing and playing.

Towards the end of week one and throughout week two, the focus of the festival moved to Kirkcaldy with several days of music at St Bryce Kirk and the whole week at the Adam Smith Theatre, using the main auditorium and the Beveridge Suite.

There were many solo instrumental and vocal performances from all ages. A continuing major feature of the Festival was the community element: this year 13 adult choirs, nine large ensembles and seven smaller ones, over four evenings provided music for their communities.

As in Dunfermline, primary and secondary schools brought their well-rehearsed music to Kirkcaldy to perform to audiences of parents and carers, friends and interested members of the community.

The Festival hub was to be found at the Adam Smith from where all operations were controlled and where the Festival shop attracted audiences and passers-by.

The closing event included the annual reception for Festival Friends, the Young Musician Final, the Open Solo instrumental and Young Singer classes.

Adjudicators Karol Fitzpatrick and Steven Cowling praised the young musicians and commented on the extremely high standard of performance.

The winner of the 2024 Fife Festival of Music Young Musician class, presented with the Glen More Trophy, was electric guitarist Alex Harrower, from Kirkcaldy, an S6 student at Viewforth High School.

All finalists gave excellent performances providing a thoroughly entertaining evening for the audience.

The Fife Festival of Music will return in 2025 from January 27 to February 7.