The Summer Term is a mixed blessing in the Music Department. The College community enjoys some of the best quality musical performance our pupils have to offer, while also saying farewell to pupils who have had a significant impact on the Department over the previous five years.
Their contributions to the musical life of Bradfield were on display at the two showcase concerts which started the term. An enthusiastic audience was treated to an evening of the very best Classical Music the College has to offer, surrounded by the elegant setting of the Long Gallery at Englefield House.
The Chapel Consort opened the concert and included a work by the English composer William Byrd in this his 400th anniversary year. The concert continued with solos by some of our Sixth Form leavers. Liam (A), Tallulah (K), Sasha (H) and Toby (F) treated the audience to some fantastic performances. Arion (G) also brought us his joint-winning performance from this year’s Solo Instrumental Competition. The second half was given entirely to a performance of Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio in D minor, performed by Liam, Tallulah and outgoing Head of Keyboard Yulia Chaplina. The standing ovation attested to the triumph of this most musical performance.
Less than a week later it was the turn of our pop and jazz musicians to showcase their talent at the renowned Pizza Express Live venue in Holborn. Spotlight sessions for leavers Lottie (I) and Jack (E) sat alongside performances by groups IV and So What as well as Arion, Herbie (F), Purdey (I), Drew (A) and fellow leaver Rosie (I).
Featuring prominently on the drums was Upper Sixth pupil Archie (A) and the performances were enabled by Jessie (M), Archie (G), Jayme (H), Oscar (F) and Jack (D). Providing these unique external experiences for our pupils is a privilege and pupils can gain a lot from performing at professional venues. The quality of musicianship on display was high in what must surely have been one of the highlights of the academic year.
