Autumn Term sees a Full Programme of Music Concerts

This term has seen a full programme of school concerts at the start of a year for the first time since the Autumn Term of 2020. This half term has seen a second Young Performers’ Concert as well as the termly School Concert and Cleobury Concert.

The Young Performers’ Concert included sixteen items performed to a large audience in the Vigornian Room. There were first-time performers and old hands, and all contributed to an excellent fifty minutes of music. December was allowed to sneak in a few hours early, with an entertaining version of the 12 days of  Christmas and a Christmas-themed  Saxophone trio to remind us of the joyous season ahead.

The School Concert features our largest ensembles. It began with the First Orchestra whose repertoire included the rousing Grand March by Verdi. The Lower Years Choir were in excellent form with three songs which demonstrated the depth of singing talent in school at the moment. The King’s Swingers provided their usual bravado in two pieces including ‘Bone town blues which showcased the three trombonists in the band. One of the School Choir’s pieces was Faure’s Cantique de Jean Racine, a piece they will sing in Paris over half term. Performances continued with the Lower Years Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra before the Wind Band finished the concert with three pieces, starting with Mussorgsky’s famous tune from night on a bare mountain and finishing with an uplifting American piece called A lasting legacy by Swearingen.

Last Thursday’s Cleobury Concert was, once again, a joyful and impressive celebration of the very best of school music-making. A number of pupils made their debut appearances, and (we think) it was the first school concert to include a lute! Solo works for horn, clarinet, organ, piano, violin, and voice were all presented engagingly, alongside contributions from the flute group and chamber choir. The evening ended with Elgar’s beautiful The Snow, a thank-you and farewell to Mr Allsop, and a final festive send-off with Jingle Bells.

All concerts this term have been supported by large audiences. Do take the chance to hear our excellent musician’s next term.