Thanet Music and Drama Festival 2026

The 2026 Thanet Music and Drama Festival ended just before the holidays, culminating in a wonderful Gala Concert at the Sarah Thorne Theatre in Broadstairs, the highlight of which (although I suppose I’m a little biased) was the thrilling performance of “Sunday” from Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park, performed in full “painting costume” by our very own AVE who had won the Cup for Choirs (years 7-13) . The CCGS Echo Ensemble came 2nd in the same class…

It was also great having the AVE members there, at the back of the auditorium, throughout the concert, cheering other winners and performers… particularly those from CCGS of whom there were many!

CCGS trophy winners in the Piano section were Edward Curtis, Asa Faux-Bowyer, and Ethan Jennings who all played at the concert, and in the Vocal section, Amelia Catto (who sang at the concert), Lily Parry, Saskia Howard and Gian Tarr.

Winners in the Speech and Drama section all also performed; Gian Tarr again won the Mime Shield, Kaytlin Sedgewick won the Chidwick Cup, with her partner, for their duologue, and Mabel Dunbar-Brunton won the Vinson Cup for Speech, and The Dramatis Personnae Cup for Shakespeare. She performed a piece of prose taken from Daphne du Maurier’s “Rebecca”.

We had many entrants in the huge Dance section; they had a separate awards’ ceremony at the Birchington Centre. Some of our students are with the Elite Dance School who won a number of trophies.

After last year’s great successes in the Instrumental section, fewer took part this year from CCGS. But let’s hope we can reverse this again next year!

As usual, it makes me proud to be part of the school.

Lynn Myhill

TMDF Secretary