FAREWELL TO OUR UPPER SIXTH MUSIC SCHOLARS: HEADMASTER’S CONCERT

Sunday 8th May was the warmest day of the year so far, but it was nevertheless a large audience that came to the Thornely Studio for the Headmaster’s Recital, which featured solo performances from fourteen of our musicians.

The first half of the programme included debut performances from some of our younger musicians, with Angel Zhen (L, Y10) opening with the third movement of Beethoven’s famous, Sonata Pathetique.  All of the musicians played with tremendous poise and we enjoyed items from Chopin to music from My Fair Lady.

At this time of year we are always mindful that we will soon bid farewell to excellent senior musicians, and the second half of the programme was dedicated to them as they took to the stage one last time. Ben Jones (S, Y13) demonstrated improvisational genius with his interpretation of Stormy Weather, and Nicola Fleck performed a stylish Can’t help lovin’ dat man from Showboat, which she recently sang in her Grade 8 singing exam.

George Bentley (S, Y13) gave a moving performance of the slow movement from one of the few Tuba concertos that exist, this one composed by Vaughan-Williams.

Flutist Phoebe Whattoff (R, Y13) gave a moving and accomplished performance of one of her grade 8 exam repertoire -Enseco’s Cantabile et Presto. Laylah Scott (R, Y13) sang a very challenging Aria by Mozart in musical contrast to Alex Procter’s (E, Y13) rendition of Empty Chairs at Empty Tables.

The eclectic programme’s finale was performed by Mollie Richmond (R, Y13), who has performed at countless events over the years as an operatic soprano. She actually chose a tenor aria, the marvellous Nessun Dorma from Puccini’s opera Turandot, as her swansong. It brought the house down.

Our leaving musicians have given an enormous amount to the music at Sedbergh and we wish them every success in their futures.

ECB

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