Summer Music

This year’s festival took place on 21st-23rd June. There were three fun-packed days of workshops and concerts much enjoyed by all the pupils who took part.

Monday 21 June

The morning session was taken up by Peter Willcock and Vicky Wright’s Woodwind and Voice Improvisation Workshop. Pupils learnt the art of story-telling through vocalisation, performing sections of Cathy Berberian’s “Stripsody”, a work using comic-book sounds in graphic notation. Pupils also learnt to use new performing techniques on their instruments to enhance their repertoire of sounds. These were expertly displayed at the ensuing Lunchtime concert.

In the afternoon there were rehearsals for the Junior Ensembles Evening Concert in the Dining Hall. The first time the location was used, it proved to be a fine acoustic for the mix of ensembles, many of which were shortly to go on a tour to France. The Junior String Ensemble began with “The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba” by Handel, followed by the String Sinfonietta’s performances of the March from “Scipio” (also by Handel) and three pieces by Lully.
The Concert Band performed an arrangement of four pieces made famous by Count Basie and his Band, and a medley of film themes by John Williams. The Chamber Choir (consisting of six pupils in Year 8) then sang an arrangement of Paul Simon’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, followed by the Junior Choir’s performances of “Jazz Gloria”, Cy Coleman’s “The Rhythm Of Life” and Lionel Bart’s “I’d Do Anything” from “Oliver!”. The evening was enjoyed by all present and was an excellent example of the kind of music-making that will be seen on the tour.

Tuesday 22 June

The morning session was dominated by a brass workshop given by tuba-player Mike Poyser. There was a mixture of free improvisation, structured improvisation, ensemble-playing from score and solo performances. Once again, the pupils demonstrated what they had learnt in a lunchtime concert (on Dyne House terrace) after the workshop. Concurrently, there was a workshop for string and woodwind players (taken by Mr Barrella and Mr Stewart) preparing for Associated Board music exams in which they marked each other’s performances and learned about the examiner’s perspective.

The afternoon saw 40 singers come together for a workshop on a variety of different choral styles, from rounds to spirituals to close harmony. A fine set of performances was given afterwards in the Undercroft.

Wednesday 23 June

The final day began with a Jazz Workshop given by Alan Hardiman, the school’s jazz trombone teacher and director of the Jazz Orchestra. As with the brass ensemble the previous day, the pupils worked on a variety of improvisation techniques, including responding during performance to Mr Hardiman’s suggestions of riffs. Concurrently there was another Associated Board music exams workshop, this time for pianists, taken once again by Mr Barrella. The pianists then performed a recital in the Music Department over lunch.

The final event of the Festival was a highly popular Picnic Pops Concert on the playing fields outside the Dining Hall. The evening began with items from the morning’s Jazz Workshop, followed by a set performed by Dynasty Jazz, a very promising group of five pupils in Years 8 & 9. The Jazz Orchestra then played three numbers: “Poultry in Motion” by Chris Berg, “Pick up the Pieces” by Roger Ball and Isaac Hayes & David Porter’s “Soul Man”. The A Cappella ensemble sang a nine-part arrangement of Max Martin’s “…Baby One More Time”, with Joanna Siddall (13GH) standing in for Britney Spears. For the finale of the event, a special Pops Orchestra was created, performing extracts from “Chicago”, “Phantom of the Opera” and “Star Wars”, as well as Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No.1. As an additional surprise, there was a special appearance by West End and “Bad Girls” star Siobhán McCarthy, singing “I Dreamed A Dream”.

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