Caitlin Shaughnessy, local girl and music scholar at Kent College, was announced as the unanimous winner of the inaugural Canterbury Festival Foundation Bursary Competition.  Judges selected from a very talented array of finalists - Jessica Meakin, Emily Rowland, Danielle O'Neill, Arran Hope, Georgina Lambert and Kirsty O'Neill - who all performed at the Shirley Hall, King's School, on Monday 24 October.

Caitlin, a violinist, accompanied by Eleni Keventsidou, played a virtuosic Danse Espagnole by Manuel de Falla with exquisite technique and panache. The judges, Carmel Kaine, Professor John Irving, and David Burridge, all agreed she played with impressive technical skill and artistic maturity.

The £2,000 award from the Festival Foundation was this year supported by the Sunley Foundation and the prize was presented on the night by Mrs Fiona Sunley. This was the very first major bursary from the charity which exists to support the long term future of the Canterbury Festival, as well as investing in young musicians in Kent.

From 1 February other local young musicians are invited to apply, through their schools or music teachers, for a place in next year's final which will take place during the Canterbury Festival in October 2012.  For details please contact the Canterbury Festival office on 01227 452853.