Spectacular Informal Concert

The concert opened with Florence J in Year One making her debut on the violin, confidently playing Musical Box. This was followed by a flurry of Year Two performers, as the audience were treated to exciting drum kit performances by Alex V (Stressed Out) and Rupert C’s own composition, cool piano performances by Bonita-May S (Clowns) and William C (Sneaky Business), and super violin performances by Alexander S-C (We Are Not Sitting Still), Aoife W (Fishcakes and Apple Pie) and Alice H (Waterfall).

Year Three’s offerings included a jazzy piano solo by Georgia P (Sneaky Business), a bouncing violin solo by Fearne B (Hoedown), and Simi H singing the uplifting Let’s Go Fly a Kite.

With a great variety of instruments from the eight Year Four performances, Louis Y confidently played Swans and Ducks on the piano, Ariana sang the cheerful Do-Re-Mi, Izzy brought colour with Orange, Yellow and Brown, and Rosie sang with swing in 42nd Street. Freddie W debuted on the saxophone with a cool performance of Cool Ghoul, Austin R showed his skill on the mini-bassoon with Afternoon Song, Henry D brought sunshine playing Balmy Days on the ‘cello, and Robyn C sang and accompanied herself on the ukulele with a super performance of U2’s I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.

Our older pupils have not all necessarily been playing their instruments the longest, as some only start lessons in Years Five or Six. Isabella W is one of these, as she started learning the oboe in September, but she performed Hot Chilli with great confidence. We heard a lively trombone solo from Thea E (Men of Harlech), Jess K sang the haunting Castle on a Cloud, Olivia G performed a beautiful and evocative solo, Ashokan Farewell on her violin, and Thomas C played a Grade 5 piano piece, A Walk in the Park with maturity and sensitivity.

Rounding off the informal concert, our most seasoned performers in Year Six treated us to a violin duet of The Skye Boat Song, performed by Sam M and Oliver H-S; Isabella W then gave her second performance of the concert on the violin, playing Reigen, James B competently played the menacing In the Hall of the Mountain King on the piano, and Darcy B reduced some members of the audience to tears with her moving rendition of I Dreamed a Dream.

There is musical talent in abundance throughout the School and it is wonderful to witness the musical journey on which the children travel in their time at King’s Hawford. Many of our pupils are regular performers in these concerts, which provide a warm and nurturing environment in which for them to gain really valuable performance experience. Musicians tend to be perfectionists when it comes to performing (although this does not necessarily correlate to a tidy bedroom), and can be unduly harsh on themselves when a slip occurs. Learning to overcome an error, to recover from a slip and continue, shows resilience and perseverance: values that are developed through tackling nerves and channelling adrenalin to the “can-do” mindset.

We look forward to the next academic year, 2024-25, and to welcoming new and seasoned performers our informal concert series. Get involved: the journey is great fun!