By Mr Keating-Roberts (Director of Music)
It has been an exceptionally busy few weeks for our musical students and staff culminating in two wonderful showcase performances.
On Sunday 24th March Bedford School hosted the The Combined Bedford School and Bedford Girls' School Choral Society Concert of Haydn's Creation a celebration of the boundless potential of young musicians; with participants spanning students from Year 6 through to Upper Sixth, performing alongside the parents Eagles Choir and professional soloists. This amalgamation of talent showcased the musical prowess and fostered a sense of camaraderie across the two schools. The Chorus and orchestra delivered a captivating rendition of Haydn's masterpiece collectively painting a vivid musical tapestry of the Creation of life derived from the Old Testament that enraptured the audience from start to finish. The soloists added another layer of brilliance to the performance and served as superb inspiration to the students.
On Monday 25th March, the Spring Concert was a delightful celebration of musical talent, featuring both Junior and Senior students in a harmonious display. The evening showcased the culmination of hard work and dedication, particularly emphasising the progression of young musicians through various workshops and programs in the first half of the programme, followed by the more complex and challenging repertoire of our Senior students in the second half.
The Junior Orchestra had the daunting task of starting the concert, they delivered a great start to the evening with a solid and energised performance of Make you feel my love by Bob Dylan.
The Year 4 Junior Toot workshop groups impressed with their newfound flute skills, showcasing enthusiasm and growth on stage. The Hooters and Tooters, a group for Juniors continuing flute and clarinet learning, made a lasting impact. Whilst the Junior string group showcased impressive ensemble skills and proficiency.
Baby Bels showcased their outstanding prize-winning performances from the Bedfordshire Festival with Hear in my heart by Sarah Quartal followed by a song celebrating the deaf community and highlighting the different ways we communicate through Bob Chilcott’s Can you hear me? complete with sign language.
The Senior students added depth and maturity to the concert; from stirring ensemble numbers from the String orchestra and specially arranged Love song & Ceilidh from the Wind Band, to superb solos and duets, each piece was executed with finesse and emotion, demonstrating years of dedication and practice. Standout performances by Esme (Year 8) and Georgia Wiltshire (Year 10) illuminated the stage with their exceptional talent.
The Spring Concert featured impressive final performances by Upper Sixth students Eleni Zorn and Francesca Davis, enchanting the audience with their talent. Eleni’s violin performance of Prelude and Allegro in the style of Gaetano Pugnani by Fritz Kreisler was stunning. Francesca's performance of the First Movement from Poulenc's Sonata for flute and piano was beautifully executed, highlighting her musical talent and expressiveness."
With Bel Canto’s stunning performance bringing the evening to a close the Spring Concert was a wonderful end of a very successful event team for the Music Department and highlighted the impact of music education.
