The stage is set for the climax of the Manx Music, Speech and Drama Festival: the Cleveland Medal Test.

Six soloists will compete for the Guild’s top prize tonight (Friday).

They are sopranos Karen Elliott, of Peel, and Ruth Tickle, of Ballasalla, mezzo soprano Linda Corkish, bass singers Paul Costain, of Rushen, and Terence Qualtrough, of Castletown, and baritone Matthew Quinn, of Ramsey.

In a change introduced this year, the finalists are made up of the top three men across the special tenor, baritone and bass classes and the top three women across the special soprano, mezzo soprano and contralto classes. In previous years, the finalists comprised the class winners of each of the six classes.

Accordingly, despite Ernie Thorn winning the tenor class with 87 points he did not make it through to the Cleveland Medal Test as Terence Qualtrough, despite finishing second in the bass class, was awarded 89 points.

All of the finalists are previous Cleveland Medal winners with the exception of Matthew Quinn.

The final weekend of the festival includes the Sheffield Plate competition, Vocal Duets Final and the Cleveland Medal Test tonight (Friday).

The popular choir concert classes take place tomorrow (Saturday). These classes take place in the Villa Marina’s Royal Hall. Tickets for Cleveland Medal Contest night cost £10, with half price entry for under 18s.

Wednesday, May 1

Royal Hall

String Class - Violin and viola (grades 1 to 3): 1, Cristina Cruz-Readi, Ballasalla, 87; 2, Max Roberts, Mannin Music, 86.

String Class - Cello and double bass (grades 1 to 3): 1, Holly Salter, Bunscoill Rhumsaa, 89; 2, Sophie Lyness, Bunscoill Rhumsaa, 88.

String Class - Violin and viola (grades 4 to 5): 1, Sophie Hindson, Farmhill, 87; 2, Wilma Rose Dalugdugan, Ramsey, 86.

String Classes - Cello and double bass (grades 4 to 5): 1, Winona Reese Dalugdugan, Ramsey, 83.

String Class - Plucked strings (grades 4 to 5): 1, Ruby Grant, Ramsey, 86.

String Class (grades six and above): 1, Anna Glynn, King William’s College, 87; 2, Xander Shirtliff, Colby, 86.

String Class - Cello and double bass (grades six and above): 1, Grace Templer, Santon, 88; 2, Archibald Elliott, Castletown, 83.

String Class - Plucked strings (grades six and above): 1, Lucy Gilmore, Ramsey Grammar School, 88; 2, Arabella Ayen, Ramsey, 87.

Special Tenor Solo: 1, Ernie Thorn, Onchan, 87; 2, Simon Bampton, Jurby West, 86.

Special Baritone Solo: 1, Matthew Quinn, Ramsey, 90; 2, Neil Taverner, East Baldwin, 88.

Special Bass Solo: 1, Paul Costain, Rushen, 90; 2, Terence Qualtrough, Castletown, 89.

Operatic Duet: 1, Ruth Tickle, Douglas, 90.

Operatic Solo (adult): 1, Mandy Griffin, Douglas, 89; 2, Ernie Thorn, Onchan, 88.

Musical Composition: 1, Marilyn Cannell, Kirk Michael, 88; joint 2, Timothy Price, Maughold, and Markus Boyd, 87.

Victorian or Edwardian Ballad (adult): 1, Peter Cringle, Kirk Michael, 89; 2, Matthew Quinn, Ramsey, 88.

Promenade Suite

The Spoken Word (year 2): 1, Hope Wilson, Marown, 87; 2, Taylor Kneen, Rushen Primary School, 86.

Reading from the Bible (years 3 to 6): 1, Rebecca Bloch, Kewaigue, 87; 2, Pierre Giuliani, Sulby, 86.

The Spoken Word (year 6): 1, Pierre Giuliani, Sulby, 89; 2, Kasia Ashton, Broadway TC, 87.

Duologue (up to year 6): 1, Kasia Ashton, Broadway TC, 85; 2, Pierre Giuliani, Sulby, 84.

Public Speaking (up to year 6): 1, Pierre Giuliani, Sulby, 87; 2, Zac Colligon, Douglas, 86.

Duologue (years 7 to 8): 1, Harriet Shooter, Stage One Drama School, 87; 2, Emily Bridson, Broadway TC, 86.

Public Speaking (years 7 to 8): 1, Danielle Wilkinson, Ballakermeen, Douglas, 86; 2, Oliver Freer, KWC, 85.

News Reading (adult): 1, Toby Smith, Peel, 88; 2, Lesley Lowe, Douglas, 87.