Musicians impress in October Informal Concert.

The October informal concert showcased a plethora of talent in our pupils from Year 1 to Year 6. Our youngest performer, William C, was calm and relaxed in his piano performance of the nursery-rhyme Pease Pudding Hot. Year 2 presented a wonderful array of violinists, Ellie M, Georgia P, Alanna A, Amelie B, and Simi H, surely boding well for future membership of the School Orchestra. There are ten children learning the violin in this year group alone! Other performances from Pre-Prep included Eleanor N and Georgia P on the piano. These pupils have made a great start on their musical journeys, and it is wonderful to see and hear their progress and delight in performing.

Higher up the School, a great selection of instruments were featured. In Year 3, Daisy E and Charlotte F gave poised performances of their exam pieces on their violins. In Year 4, Harry G gave his first solo trumpet performance of Hot Cross Buns. Thea E played along with her virtual teacher, who appeared via video link to accompany her in a fun trombone duet. Olivia G happily sang an entertaining song, Playing on the Beach, and Elliot C and Elizabeth N also gave encouraging performances on the piano.

In Year 5, James B had confidently opened the concert with a really entertaining piece called The Glissando Maker, demonstrating the clever sliding technique unique to the Trombone. Ava W confidently performed the traditional Scottish Skye Boat Song, in which she both sang and played her flute, though not at the same time! On Violin, Sam M gave a lively rendition of the drunken sailor traditional tune, with an exciting and unusual accompaniment.

Pupils from Year 6 gave some impressive vocal performances, from Edith D’s moving Maybe from the musical Annie and Poppy C’s tearjerking How Does a Moment Last Forever? from the soundtrack to the film Beauty and the Beast to Rose G’s calming traditional Welsh song Llwyn Onn (The Ash Grove). Michelle Z brought the concert to a close with a mesmerising performance of a post grade 8 piece, Debussy’s Prélude from Pour le Piano.

There is talent in abundance at Hawford with 85% of Prep children receiving instrumental or singing tuition. The next concert on Thursday 17th of November will feature Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Musical Theatre Club and Brass Group. A week later there will be another informal concert on Thursday 24th November, open to soloists. Performance request forms will be available from Mrs Hughes or the School Office after half term. We look forward to seeing you at these and other musical events in the run-up to Christmas.