Some of Moore County’s best young musicians showed their stuff at a music festival sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of the Sandhills last Wednesday.

The club has presented its annual Picquet Music Festival since 1946. It is named for Charles Picquet, who created the festival to showcase choral groups from the area. Since 1982, the event has taken the form of a music scholarship competition.

This year, the participants hailed from the county’s three public high schools — Pinecrest, Union Pines and North Moore. The O’Neal School did not have a representative this year.

“This is an excellent, excellent group of students,” said club member Jim Dawson, who emceed the event.

The top three winners were awarded trophies and a college scholarship for their efforts.

Murphy Pilson, a senior at Union Pines, came in first place for her performance on trumpet of “Hummel Trumpet Concerto (Movement D).” She received a $1,500 scholarship.

Summer Hennings, a senior at Union Pines as well, finished second and received an $800 scholarship. A soprano, she sang “The Girl in 14G” by Tesori and Scanlan.

Andrew Blanchard, a junior at Pinecrest, finished third and received a $700 scholarship. A tenor, he sang “The Boatman’s Dance” by Aaron Copeland.

Other performers included Robert Edens, cello, from Pinecrest; Cain Hall, baritone, from North Moore; Cynthia Hohman, violin, from Union Pines; Carl Nathan Thomas, bass, from North Moore; Cody Williamson, tenor saxophone, from North Moore; and LeAnne Wilson, clarinet, from Pinecrest.

Johnny Bradburn and Danny and June Infantino judged the contest.

The Picquet Music Festival accepts students nominated by their music teachers. It accepts both vocal and instrumental performers from chorus, band and orchestra.

The students are required to perform pieces that are “technically and artistically challenging.”

The club also recognized the parents of each performer, as well as the teachers and administrators from the high school. The event remains a favorite of Kiwanis members.

Contact John Krahnert III by e-mail at jkrahnert@thepilot.com.