Music Concert
Congratulations to all the musicians who performed so ably with ensembles or as soloists at Tuesday night’s Music Department Concert. Performers, parents, families and VIP guests packed the Radcliffe Hall for a seasonal tribute to the term’s musical activities.
The evening started with the Wind Band playing ‘The James Bond Theme’ and a selection from ‘Les Misèrables’. The Gramophones, the School’s Barber-Shop style group gave a particularly animated rendition of an arrangement of Lady Gaga’s ‘Poker Face’ and ‘Bad Romance’; mirth then turned to marvel as 12 year old Emma Richards played ‘Rondo’, the 3rd movement from Seitz Concerto No.5, with real panache.
Harmony, the choir for girls in Year 7 and 8, sang Elton John’s ‘Your Song’ followed by ‘Jubilate Deo’, an uplifting piece which they will also be performing in the School’s Carol Service next week. The vocal trio of Olivia Hewitt-Jones, Olivia Mukerjea and Celestine Poirier then sang a harmonised version of ‘Where is love?’ from ‘Oliver!’ before Year 10 ‘cellist, William Taylor, gave an accomplished performance of Beethoven’s ‘Sonatina’. The first half concluded with the Girls’ Choir performing Schubert’s ‘The Lord is My Shepherd’ followed by an upbeat version of ‘Why do fools fall in love?’.
After a short interval, the ‘Cello Ensemble played Bach’s ‘Sarabande’ from Suite No. 6 in D, a beautiful piece which had been arranged so that all the ‘cellists, from pre-Grade One to post-Grade 8, were able to perform at appropriate levels of difficulty. The Chamber Choir sang Scarlatti’s ‘Exsultate Deo’ and ‘Sir Christèmas’ by Mathias and were followed by Robin Datta singing the beautiful ‘Ständchen’ by Schubert. The String Ensemble’s performance of ‘Christmas Pastorale' by Corelli continued the Christmas spirit and their second piece, the lively ‘Makin’ Whoopee’ showed off the talents of our upper string players. To end the concert, the Senior Choir performed three pieces; an arrangement of ‘Rainy Days and Mondays’, the sublime ‘Oh Holy Night’ with solos by Robin Datta and Rachel Barnes, and last but by no means least, an impressive rendition of the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ from Handel’s ‘Messiah’.
It was a truly enjoyable evening for all concerned; the Music Department is very appreciative of all the support it receives and would like to thank the peripatetic, teaching, office and grounds staff for all their time and help in making the performance the huge success it was.
