The Spring Concert at Brandeston Hall provided a celebration of musical depth and variety. With nearly every member of the school from Year 3 up to Year 8 performing and genres ranging from classical to rock and from film score to grunge, there really was something for everyone to enjoy.
The programme consisted exclusively of ensembles with rock bands from the senior years encouraging enthusiastic audience participation with their performances of Born to be Wild and Smells Like Teen Spirit and boys and girls vocal groups raising the roof with Zip-a-dee-doo-dah‘, Writing’s On The Wall and Fight Song. The orchestra mixed Abba with Grieg while the enthusiastic Ukulele group must have been the first ever ensemble to risk placing Vivaldi on the same billing as Michael Jackson!
Everything was done with the customary poise, swagger and sense of humour that we have come to expect from inspirational Director of Music, Rob Rogers, who compered proceedings with wit and charm and coaxed exceptional performances from his musicians and singers.
Headmaster, Matthew King, commented afterwards: “It’s rare indeed to see so many magical, collaborative performances played out with such a complete lack of fear. Rob Rogers encourages everyone in the school to have a go, he passionately believes that music is for everyone and the results are plain to see. To see the whole of Year 3 performing to such a large audience on violins after just a few weeks of learning might not have promised much on paper but, in practice, it delivered the sort of treat that can only happen when children stop worrying about failing and play with unencumbered joy and a tangible sense of fun.”
