Seventeen-year-old Ross Knight, Carnoustie, a gifted tuba player, won the British Federation Music Festivals Challenge Cup (The Blue Riband) for the best senior performance.

He studies with Mike Robertson at Carnoustie High School and recently won the Scottish Brass solo player title.

Prior to presenting Ross with his trophy, adjudicator Mr Alan Fernie, from Selkirk, spoke of his exceptional standard of playing which had earned him 91 marks during the brass classes on Friday.

Christine Edwards, Newtonhill, and Betheny Crockett, Stonehaven, shared the Tomala Piano Scholarship. Christine also won the Gold Challenge Medal Instrumental and The Nancy Cameron Memorial Trophy.

Betheny who wowed the Saturday night audience with her performance of Rachmaninov's Prelude in G sharp minor, was presented with the Morrison Trophy and Medal as best junior performer at the festival. Both of these talented pianists are pupils of Blair Cargill who hails from Arbroath and now teaches in the Banchory area.

The gold challenge medal for vocal singing went to Claire Nicoll, Arbroath, a pupil of Sheena Glover. Claire also won The William Cant Trophy for Oratorio and the senior vocal recital class.

The Elizabeth Gordon Singers' Vocal Scholarship was presented to Layla Brown, Arbroath.

Layla also won the Gold Medal for Scottish Songs, Arbroath Burns Club Award for Burns songs and, with her teacher, the Archie Briggs Trophy for lieder.

Sheena Glover, executive chairman, proposed a comprehensive vote of thanks and said there had been many favourable comments about the organisation of the festival which returned to its normal four-day format.

She also thanked the adjudicators for their remarks and encouragement to competitors, the teachers who had worked tirelessly preparing their pupils for the various competitions, and the festival committee and stewards for their commitment in ensuring the event was a success.

Mrs Glover added that the committee hope to work with visiting music teachers in Angus schools to enable more local schools to take part in the festival in the future.

On Saturday the festival received a visit from Eileen Waterston, the British Federation of Music Festivals Scottish representative, who said she was delighted with the organisational skills of those concerned, adding that the Arbroath Festival is a worthy member of the Federation.

A full report, results and pictures of the winners appears in this week's issue of the Guide & Gazette.

Click play to watch a slideshow of the winners.