DEPARTING UPPER VI MUSICIANS’ FINAL HEADMASTER’S RECITAL

The Headmaster’s Recital, which took place on Sunday, is dedicated to solo and chamber ensemble performances and is often the last occasion at which our departing Upper VIth musicians will perform.

This year’s concert featured some remarkably advanced repertoire, which the pupils had been working on for some time. Jasmine Pang (CH, Y13) has been practising studiously all year Chopin’s Ballade No.1 was the culmination of the year for her.

The piece has become well-known in recent years, not least because it featured in the film The Pianist a few years ago, and is fiendishly difficult in places. Jasmine pulled it off, though, much to the appreciation of the audience in the Thornely Studio. Jasmine had already been joined on the stage by Toby Randall-Paley (Cello) and Ivan Gorriti (Violin) as the piano trio opened the concert with ‘Oblivion’ by Piazzolla.

We have become used to virtuosic piano performances this year, and Marianne Yacoub, John Chen and James Horan all sat at the Steinway B grand on Sunday – as did Jeremy Cowen, who brought the recital to a close with a most sensitive performance of Schubert’s 3rd Impromptu.

Before that, though, we all greatly enjoyed George Bentley’s Tuba solo ‘Bass in the Ballroom’, some fantastic singing from Mollie Richmond, Davis Yao and the Chamber Choir.

CFJA

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