TEENAGER Simone Mistry-Palmer was the toast of the 93rd Swindon Music Festival after winning the title Supreme Champion for her singing talent.

Greendown School pupil Simone, 16, said she was "overwhelmed" by the award, adding that the competition was tough.

She said: "It is wonderful really. I had a great night."

Simone, who picked up a host of other awards for her choral work earlier in the week, perfected her singing voice at the Janice Thompson Singing School and has recently won a place at the London Studio of Performing Arts. Her dream is to see her name in lights in the West End.

Vice chairman of the festival Sheila Marcer said: "It has gone very well and has been a successful festival with some good adjudicators, good sessions and good advice for the musicians.''

The festival ran for two weeks ending on Saturday at Swindon's Arts Centre, Devizes Road, Old Town.

Sheila said that although the entries were slightly down on the last few years, the quality of music was extremely high. Around 1,000 performers took part in the event.

"When you consider that one entry can be a choir or band or ensemble, that means a lot of people in the festival,'' said Sheila.

"There were several children's choirs this time which were very good,'' she said.

The Ruskin Upper School Choir sang in the Supreme Championship concert.

And there were contributions from other entries representing categories including vocal solos, duets and groups, pianoforte, strings, woodwind, guitar, ensembles, composition, brass and keyboards.

Adjudicator Jeffery Wilson took the jazz workshops with a Junior Jazz Band.

"It was good entertainment as well as helpful for the musicians,'' said Sheila.

Vivien Pike took the vocal workshop working with four singers.

"All four gained a lot from her advice she is a singing specialist,'' said Sheila.

Many of the musicians who take part in the festival go on to music colleges or study music at university.

Sheila says that the committee and Friends of the Festival are determined to keep the event going but they need sponsors.

"The festival is traditional and we don't want to see it die. We re looking for sponsorship, we rely on it. The costs go up all the time,'' she said.

The Grand Concert including the Senior Vocal Championship ended the festival on a high note.

Next year's festival runs from March 31 to April 12, 2003, at the revamped Arts Centre.