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Music - News & Events

Year 5 Concert

At their recent informal concert the Year 5 pupils delivered their musical items with confidence and flair. The soloists all acquitted themselves with distinction, even though for some, it was the first time they had performed in public. The enthusiastic audience encouraged the children by their warm applause and it was lovely to see how much the Year 5 had achieved since their last concert. Well done, to everyone concerned.

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Concert in Norwich Cathedral

On the evening of Friday 23rd September, Town Close Cathedral  Choir (made up of members of the various choirs within the Prep Department) performed in Norwich Cathedral  as part of a concert launching this year’s Salvation Army Toys and Tins appeal.  The children, conducted by Mrs Humphries and accompanied by Miss Skinner, had worked extremely hard in the run up to the concert, and as we listened to the confident harmonies and lively, varied rhythms filling the Cathedral, it was clear that the hard work on everyone’s part had been well  worthwhile.  The programme of music was varied, with serious and lighthearted pieces carefully selected both to entertain the audience and to stretch the children, and the children’s performance was not only impressively polished, but full of enthusiasm.  It was clear they were thoroughly enjoying what they were singing.  The children were joined by the up and coming young Spanish guitarist Anoush Sadaat, singer Dave Metcalf and the Norwich Citadel Salvation Army Band. The concert was compeered by  world renowned keyboard player Rick Wakeman. This opportunity to have been part of a major local event, and to perform alongside professional musicians in a beautiful place, will not only have been an important educational experience, it will have given them a memory to treasure in years to come.

E. Lewis-Williams

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Visit by the Minstrels Gallery

Earlier in the term the Year 6 children were treated to a workshop given by the Minstrels gallery. Pupils were able to try out various Tudor instruments and learn how crumhorns, sackbuts, shawms and rebecs have evolved into the modern instruments that we use today. There was much hilarity when some of the boys tried to dance some Tudor steps and march in time and we all enjoyed a most entertaining afternoon.

Year 3 Concert

The Year 3 pupils entertained us all with a superb concert on Monday 27th June as they performed a mixture of songs, musical solos and group performances. From the opening rendition of ‘First you make your fingers click’ to the final African folk song, ‘Si Si’, the children performed with enthusiasm and displayed a wide variety of styles and skills they have learned this year. In between the songs, we were entertained by a solo song and instrumental performances on the piano, saxophone, cello, violin and flute. The whole year group performed three pieces on the recorder, finishing with the ‘EBGB’s’ where they combined music and singing to great effect. The children were lucky to have an enthusiastic audience attending to celebrate the musical achievements of our Year 3 pupils. Thank you to all who worked so hard to make this such an enjoyable event.

Mr R Coyle

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Year 1 Concert

The Year 1 children excelled themselves in the recent concert as they performed their songs with clarity, musicality and enthusiasm.  The children have been learning how to use their voices effectively and this was clearly demonstrated as they sang ‘Sherlock’s Voicebox’ and delivered the ‘Red Riding Hood Rap’ with considerable panache.  They also sang ‘It’s an opposite day today’, ‘Buttercup Farm’, ‘You can do it!’ and most popular of all ‘The Boa Constrictor’.  The Year 1 songs were interspersed with items by children from the Prep Department; William Lloyd - french horn, William Garson –flute, the Cantamus Girls’ Choir and the School Orchestra. All the items were well-received by a very warm and enthusiastic audience.  Thank you to all those who worked so hard to make this such an enjoyable concert.

J Humphries

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Strings and Voices

The Read Hall was packed to capacity for the recent ‘Strings and Voices’ concert.  The majority of performers were drawn from Years 2 to 5 and they all acquitted themselves well, performing with confidence and enthusiasm.  The programme began with the Year 2 Fiddlesticks Group and proceeded with performances by the Animato and Stringendo String Ensembles, the Guitar Group and the 4tissimo Choir.  The group items were interspersed by vocal solos performed by members of Year 7 and 8 – these included performances in a variety of languages, including Norwegian!  All the items were warmly received by the enthusiastic audience. Congratulations to all those who took part and particular thanks to Miss Skinner for all her work with the string ensembles.

J Humphries

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With an exuberant flourish from a strong orchestra playing Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, the School Concert opened last night in the Read Hall.   From start to finish it was a delight to listen to: the music was varied, the performers enthusiastic and focused, their musicianship impressive. 

After the orchestral rendition of Mozart, Georgina Roberts played the Larghetto and Allegro from Sonata in A Major by Handel, an assured and confident performance on the flute.  This was followed by a vocal solo by Robert Laingchild.  To sing solo in front of an audience is a particularly brave thing to do, and Robert’s enthusiasm and sincerity was both touching and powerful.  Immediately after Robert, the school Chamber Ensemble, a Year 5 group guided by Miss Skinner, performed Pachelbel’s Canon: no easy feat, especially for children who are only 9, and their skilful, concentrated performance is a testimony to the dedication of the music staff.

It was an evening of many highlights, and after Howard Upton’s piano solo and the Flute Group’s two performances, the Girls’ Choir took to the choral rises and filled the Read Hall with song.  There was crystal clear enunciation, careful harmonising, cheerful enthusiasm, and playful choreography ... and even a fantastic diminuendo as the sounds of a slowing steam train took over from the words of Chikka Hanka.

Energetic as ever, the Percussion Group came next to entertain the audience with Mr Willson’s arrangement of Latin Grooves Chacha.  Joe Hill, with his saxophone solo, reminded us of balmy summer evenings to come.

The evening ended with an exciting performance by the Brass Group, led by Messrs Gibson, junior and senior, and it is clear that this is a group which will be featuring more and more as the very young performers move up through the school.  Finally, the orchestra treated the audience to themes from ‘Westside Story’ and we were left with a sense of just how much music happens in the school, and of what high quality that music is.  Many thanks to Mrs Humphries, Miss Skinner and all the music staff for such a fine evening’s entertainment.

Mrs E Lewis-Williams

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Norfolk County Music Festival

The School Wind Band took part in the Norfolk County Music Festival, playing in the ‘School Band’ class and performing the ‘Theme from Jupiter ‘by Gustav Holst and ‘Super Trouper’ by Abba. The adjudicator was Paul Harris, an eminent musician and composer who has published over six hundred compositions. Mr Harris congratulated the Band on their intonation, articulation and musicianship and was impressed by the number of enthusiastic wind players. He said that the group produced a clean, round sound and that they were a well-disciplined ensemble. He felt that the Band’s performance was well-prepared and of a high standard - all the members should be congratulated.  He awarded them the excellent mark of ‘Highly Commended’.  Congratulations to the Wind band and to all the individual soloists who have taken part in the Festival over the last two weeks.

J Humphries

Year 4 Concert

On Tuesday 15th February the Year 4 children gave a wonderful concert for their parents and families.  It started with a lively syncopated choral medley incorporating a complex mix of parts and rounds. Then Ryan Chan gave a polished performance of Bach’s Air on a G String on his violin, followed by a delightful flute duet by Emily Bloom and Emily Waller.  All the Y4s came together for three recorder pieces which incorporated some Irish wizardry on the digital piano!  Next we were treated to a confident solo by Daniel Burton, playing from memory, and a traditional Pavan by Tara Daynes, Liberty Hargrave and Miss Skinner, all on the violin.  The rest of the programme included two emotive and evocative vocal solos by Louisa Dixey and Julia Lelewel, a cello quartet Knickerbocker Glory performed by Emma Cossey, George Harrad, Lucy Horner and Matty Tremelling, a piano piece partly composed by the soloist Ellyn Roberts and a guitar piece played by Dani Long-Martinez.  If we thought this was the climax of the concert, Nick Byrne proved us wrong with his incredibly professional drum solo!  For a finale Mrs Humphries showed us all what young singers are capable of under her expert guidance with a perfectly timed comic song including actions and lively rhythms.

Mrs S Pointer

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Junior Concert

The children taking part in the Junior Concert were greeted by a warm and enthusiastic audience. Parents, grandparents and friends had arrived in large numbers and nearly all the seats in the Read Hall were taken.

The concert began with two lively warm-up songs performed by the 4tissimo Choir. There then followed several assured and musical solo performances by children in Yrs 2-5 on a variety of instruments including flute, clarinet, trumpet, violin, cello and piano. The Year 3 Animato String Group gave their debut performance with excellent arrangements of ‘Twinkle, Twinkle’ and ‘London’s Burning’ and the concert was brought to a conclusion with a rousing rendition of ‘The Wreck of the Amphitrite’ by the 4tissimo Choir.

Congratulations to all the participants - a very enjoyable concert.

J. Humphries

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Informal Concert for Mr Willson’s Pupils

The Read Hall has certainly been busy this term. Mr Willson and his drum pupils hosted an Informal Concert, the first of its kind in this exciting venue. There was a very relaxed atmosphere and the musicians performing were drawn from Years 4 to 8. In an interesting and varied programme each drummer displayed immense concentration and a sense of fun in their playing. Well done to all those who took part; especially in terms of preparation, the rapport they have with their teacher and the obvious enthusiasm they have for their instrument.

Miss E Skinner

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