Lunchtime concerts have become a weekly highlight in the school’s music calendar over the years and provide boys with an opportunity to perform in front of a live audience. Open to the public as well, these concerts are increasing in popularity and set in our stunning Recital Hall, give the audience an hour of joyous music set in beautiful surroundings.
Each week the music focusses on a different family of instruments including, brass, piano, strings, woodwind and organ, as well as voice; all feature on a rotational basis.
This week was a little different with a mix of pieces on a range of instruments performed by some of our music scholars – a talented line-up of musicians who performed solo pieces with piano accompaniment from Mrs Bantock.
The concert opened with Remove Former Koya Okusaga singing Purcell’s If Music be the Food of Love taken from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Koya’s piece was sophisticated with an enchanting melody with accented notes that he managed perfectly.
Next up was Remove Former Harry L’Estrange on the violin who performed Mozart’s Sonata in A major, 1st mvt, an upbeat piece full of energy and life.
Frederik Simmen took the audience on an cheerful journey to a grand ballroom full of aristocrats in all their finery with Vaughan Williams’ Christmas Dance, a piece he played effortlessly on the viola.
Another highlight was Fourth Former Jamie Hall who provided a more modern injection and taste of Broadway when he sang Berstein’s Somewhere, taken from West Side Story. Jamie, who is one of our youngest music scholars, sang with confidence and flair – a rousing song which built to a powerful crescendo.
We also heard from Lower Sixth Former Max Leung on the Trombone, Lower Sixth Former Toby L’Estrange on the double bass, Upper Sixth Former Daniel Hutchins on the trumpet and Remove Former Fraser Morgan on the piano.
The concert finished on a high with Lower Sixth Former Aaron Lim who played Scarlatti’s Sonata K426 and Sonata K427 on the piano, a mind-blowing execution of two technically demanding pieces, which Aaron performed with graceful flair as his fingers danced fluidly on the keyboard, giving the audience a real treat.
Director of Music, Joss Sanders said afterwards, “I’m really pleased with the performances we heard today from some of the music scholars (others are currently in exams). The fact that these scholars contribute to so many different parts of the musical life of the school is just amazing, and great to hear some of them performing really well today.”
Our series of Lunchtime Concerts of Music is open to everyone. They take place every Friday at 12.50pm in our Recital Hall, based in our Music School. Admission is free, just come along and enjoy the music!
