16 March 2018
Our third intermediate instrumental competition showcased the talents of eight of the School’s intermediate musical talents, the criteria for entry being grades 6 to 8, but excluding those who had actually taken their grade 8 examination. Although the number of performers did not quite match last year’s similar event, the competition was of a phenomenally high standard throughout, and it impressed our adjudicator, Dr Tom Edwards, who is the Director of Music of Rendcomb College in Gloucestershire.
In the first half we heard three pianists and a violinist. First to play was Ben Shaw with Clementi’s G major Sonata, then Andreas Lo (violin) with Böhm’s Introduction and Polonaise, Timmy Chiu with Haydn’s Sonata in C and Joe Bradley with Schubert’s Ab Impromptu, which he played from memory.
After the interval we heard performances by Hugo Payton (cello) in a Mendelssohn Song Without Words, Tong Tong Sukamongkol (piano) in Chopin’s Nocturne in C sharp minor, Oliver Glover in Haydn’s Oboe Concerto (Andante) and Fergal Marsh (viola) in Tchaikovsky’s Passionate Confession.
Difficult though it was to separate such fine performances, that was precisely the unenviable task that faced our adjudicator. After some very thoughtful and encouraging comments he was able to place the three performances that he felt were the most successful this evening. 1st place and the winner's cup went to pianist Tong Tong for his lovely playing of Chopin, joint second place to cellist, Hugo Payton and violist, Fergal Marsh, and third to oboist, Oliver Glover.
This was a competition of high quality and all the competitors deserve the warmest of congratulation. We thank Dr Edwards for an absolutely super adjudication.
