By Mrs Parsons (Deputy Director of Music)
Last week, we were delighted to host our Summer concerts beginning with the Senior School showcase on Monday the 3rd July. Our fantastically talented and committed Senior School musicians put on a fabulous summer concert, impressing both staff and audience with the depth and breadth of their musical gifts.
The concert was a tour de force presentation of performances of some truly challenging material, including solos by a post diploma Eva Ng at the piano, Leila Kurtti on the violin superbly accompanied by her older sister Athena and genuinely moving vocal performances by Meg Miles and Liberty McNiff, among many other delightful contributions.
On the ensemble side Symphony Orchestra featured an elegant solo from Charlotte Sanders on the trumpet in Handel’s Water Music, there was some foot stomping rock and pop from the Year 7, 10 and 11 Rock bands and the Bel Canto and Consort choir united to perform a haunting rendition of the classic And So it Goes by Billy Joel. It was an evening of pure quality and the performers should be very proud of their achievements in Music this year!
The Junior School concert on Wednesday 5th July featured burgeoning talent. The musicians put on an incredible concert, packed full of brilliant performances both solo and ensemble. The outgoing Year 6 students provided some fantastic solos, including Matilda Bradban singing Beautiful Ghosts from Cats, Simone Erwig playing the classic Latin tune Tico Tico on the violin and a lyrical “Strawberry Sarabande” performed on the flute by Ella Coupland.
The Junior Orchestra excelled themselves with renditions of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables and the jaunty melody Buddies, Mr Gemmill’s String Group moved the audience with their heartfelt interpretation of Action Movie/Sad Movie and Fabulous Flutes gave a rousing performance of the classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, amongst many other exciting ensemble pieces.
The concert ended with a stirring and fun packed performance by Junior Choir, who sang the classic S Club 7 song Reach, followed by the now annual whole Year 6 performance of Handel’s Zadok the Priest. It was a night thoroughly enjoyed by students, staff and parents alike, and a fitting tribute to the eight years of dedication and enthusiasm of our outgoing team member Mr Atkins, whose presence will be greatly missed by all.
