By Mrs Jones (Music Teacher)

On Friday 9th February, singers from across the school gathered to take part in a two-hour vocal workshop including music from Six the Musical and Dear Evan Hansen. Studying vocal technique, learning harmonies, and at times some basic choreography, the students worked hard to put together two songs which they then performed for our audience in the evening. 

Our programme celebrating vocal music across the eras followed a chronology from the 1500s to the present day and opened, rather tongue in cheek, with Ex-wives from Six the Musical. Although a contemporary musical, the production is set in the Renaissance era and tells the story of Henry VIII through the perspective of his six wives; our students hugely enjoyed singing the opening number together and the opportunity to test out simple choreography! 

Consort Choir, our joint choir with Bedford School, continued the show with a madrigal and a folk song, and it was a delight to hear soloists, Meg Miles (Year 9) and Serena Jacob (Lower Sixth) sing Handel and Puccini, respectively. Our own Bel Canto performed Ave Verum by Mozart in four parts with quiet solemnity and beautiful attention to phrasing. Accompanied by David Williams, our soloists delighted audiences with a huge variety of music from Disney to Oleta Adams, and our afternoon finished with a finale bringing together all the voices in ‘You will be found’ by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, another hugely popular song amongst the students.

Parents enthused afterwards, commenting that they had thoroughly enjoyed the range of music and seeing the product of the afternoon workshop.

Such a lovely afternoon of music making; we will look forward to Voice Fest again next year!