La Ronge's Morgan Layton won two Adjudicator’s Choice scholarships. (submitted photo/Alicia Layton)

By Derek Cornet

Adjudicator’s Choice

Teen makes ‘unusual’ double-win at La Ronge and Area Music Festival

Apr 15, 2019 | 5:06 PM

It was an unexpected double-win for local teen Morgan Layton, who was awarded two of the most prestigious scholarships at the La Ronge and Area Music Festival.

In all, 49 scholarships were handed out at the Outstanding Performances Concerts held at the Alliance Church last week. The most prominent awards at the event were three Adjudicator’s Choice scholarships of which best vocal performance and best popular arranged piano went to Layton. Alina Mack secured the remaining scholarship for classical piano.

“It’s unusual for one student to receive two such awards, and worth celebrating,” festival President Stephen Bagwell stated in an email to larongeNOW.

During the festival, Layton performed three vocal pieces as part of the competition in categories including classical, musical theatre and self-accompanied. The popular arrange piano consisted of two pieces with one being her own composition entitled The Journey of Narnia. Layton stated she’s been competing in music festival since she was a young child and had won an Adjudicator’s Choice scholarship before, but never two in the same year.

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Layton noted it didn’t surprise her to learn she won the scholarship for best vocal performance because of the high marks she received, adding the win for popular arrange piano caught her off guard.

“My mom said she never seen me look so surprised,” Layton stated. “I was almost in tears. I was so excited, and it was super unexpected.”

As a Grade 12 student at Churchill Community High School, Layton said it was nice to have the double-win as she plans on attending the University of Saskatchewan in the fall. When she moves to Saskatoon, she wants to join a choir or perhaps take some fine arts classes. Layton has also been teaching piano since Grade 9 and she began teaching vocals last year.

For Layton, music is an art she’s passionate about as she believes music is a form of communication deeper than words.

“Whenever I’m feeling down or have a strong feeling about something, music always helps me whether I’m listening to it or I’m playing it,” she said.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno