News Summer Concert 2022 07.07.2022

The Bishop Centre was packed on Wednesday evening for our Summer Concert, which featured performances from our larger musical ensembles and a number of chamber groups, performing pieces ranging from Shostakovich to Star Wars, West Side Story to Whitacre.

As the audience entered, they were treated to the soothing sounds of the Year 8 String Ensemble playing Einaudi’s ‘Experience’. The concert then started with a bang, as Percussion Ensemble performed their own arrangement of ‘Für Elise’ complete with marimba solo! This was followed by the Year 7 Choir, who sang “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” complete with Latin percussion accompaniment. A change of atmosphere was introduced by the Year 10 String Quartet, who gave a very mature performance of Shostakovich, before String Ensemble’s delightful performance of music from the film Coco. The Latin theme continued with Year 8 and 9 Choir’s performance of ‘I Feel Pretty’ from West Side Story. A highlight of school concerts is always our Senior Chamber Orchestra, who on this occasion performed Elgar’s ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ and the second movement of Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto, with soloist Cassie Wigoder in the Lower Sixth. A lighter mood was introduced with Senior Choir’s performance of ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend’ (complete with choreography!). Famous themes from the world of film and television were performed by Concert Band (Grease), Brass Ensemble (Thunderbirds) and Junior Chamber Orchestra (Star Wars). The Chamber Choirs gave beautiful performances of Mendelssohn, Whitacre and Goodall.

At the end of the concert, Director of Music, Miss McAdam, led students and staff in an emotional farewell to Miss Reid (Assistant Director of Music) who leaves us this term. The performance finished with Year 7 Ukulele Choir’s heartfelt rendition of ‘Imagine’.