THE ?Dartmoor Auctioneer?, John Wood, has won the prestigious Rosebowl ? the supreme vocal trophy ? at the Exeter Festival.
?I have not entered a competition before. This was the first one and I was delighted,? said John.
?It was my singing teacher who said why don?t I do it ? so I did.?
The 76th Devon Performing Arts Festival was held at the Barnfield Theatre, Exeter.
John, who was a winner from the eleven qualifying vocal classes, then went forward to compete for the Rosebowl Trophy.
He won the Tenor Open competition singing Roger Quilter?s setting of ?O Mistress Mine?.
He then went on to compete and win the Rosebowl with a rendition of Schubert?s ?Who Is Sylvia??
The adjudicator was Vivien Pike, who is well known at national and international festivals, and the Sainsbury?s Choir of the Year competition.
John, 49, who lives in Chagford, was taught classical singing as a boy and was a cathedral chorister. He has taken up lessons again recently to ?stretch his skills?.
Apart from being a busy auctioneer he finds time to sing at private functions which he enjoys, and he is a member of the Chagford Singers and other choral groups.
?I?m getting into lighter music just a bit ? not pop, but ballads and Victorian parlour songs,? he said.