Last week, the Music Department held two wonderful concerts showcasing the many talented musicians in the Senior School. On Thursday night, we held our annual Spring Concert to a packed Lees Hall. The concert featured many of the ensembles that have been rehearsing during the term, including Wind Ensemble, Clarinet Ensemble and Baroque Trio. It opened with the Senior Orchestra playing a medley from the musical Wicked, following which, we heard the first of our Year 13 A level soloists, Anais, who gave a faultless rendition of Sweet Child O’ Mine on electric guitar. Our other Year 13 A level students, Amy and Rachel, both performed during the evening too, Amy delivering an impressive performance of the first movement of Neruda’s Trumpet Concerto, and Rachel performing musical theatre song ‘Vanilla Ice-Cream’ with great character and technical skill.
Other highlights included movements from two piano trios for piano, clarinet and cello, one by Clara Schumann and another by Louise Farrenc, and two highly accomplished performances of Mozart piano concerto movements, accompanied by a strings, given by Year 10 student Lily (1st movement from Concerto in A major K488) and Year 11 student, Jemima (1st movement of Concerto in D minor K466).
The Senior Choir were also on impressive perform, performing the Kyrie and Gloria from Mozart’s Coronation Mass as well as ‘Say a Little Prayer’ and Robbie Williams’ ‘Angels’.
Director of Music, Mr Hargraves, was extremely proud of all the students who took part and felt that it was probably the best SHS concert he has heard since joining the school over 11 years ago. Well done girls!!
The next evening, we had our first Rock Band evening, featuring 3 of the school Bands. First up were Year 10 band, The Tides, who performed their songs brilliantly well. Their first performance was back in the Autumn Concert and although they were good then, this concert showed just how far they’ve come since then. Sixth Form band, District Line, followed them and they too were excellent, delivering their songs with style and great character. Snark, made up of musicians from Years 10-13, ended the concert, performing a range of songs from Guns ‘n’ Roses through to Arctic Monkeys, Jeff Buckley and The Last Dinner Party.
It was a fantastic evening – congratulations to all those who performed and thank you to everyone within the school community who came to support them.
