5 July 2012
This year's summer concert was held on a glorious summer’s evening on 5th July in a packed out Amey Theatre, Abingdon. It involved the entire school (Y.3-8), featuring all our various instrumental ensembles, choirs and soloists.
As usual, paired year groups came together for 2 songs each: Years 7 & 8 gave an upbeat and melodic rendition of Let it Be by the Beatles and Can You Feel the Love Tonight from The Lion King by Elton John and Tim Rice. Years 5 & 6 wowed us with their enormous sound with a song from Captain Noah and his Floating Zoo by Flanders and Horovitz as well as Any Dream Will Do from Joseph by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Years 3 & 4 entertained us with an action song, Groovy Grandma by Williams and sang with very clear diction with a mouthful of very fast words in a song from Jonah-Man Jazz by Michael Hurd. Other vocal items included Junior Choir’s I Don’t Want to live on the Moon by Moss, which they sang with vigour under the direction of Lenka Sowter. Senior Choir sang 2 songs they had taken on tour to Germany earlier in the year, Alleluia by Mozart and The Lord is my Shepherd by Howard Goodall, ably conducted by Mike Rees. Tom Buckle (Y.8), who has won a music exhibition to Abingdon, sang Jar of Hearts by Perri absolutely beautifully, leaving not a dry eye in the theatre. He was later joined by Darius Oraee (Y.8) and Jasper Perry (Y.7) who sang Nella Fantasia by Morricone together as a trio and their voices blended so well together, making a fabulous sound. As has now become the custom, the teaching staff joined forces for ‘Glee Club’, this year singing Sentimental Journey by Green, Brown and Homer. They were cheered onto stage and their efforts were truly appreciated by the audience and boys.
Many instrumental ensembles featured in the concert, including Orchestra, playing the theme from Star Wars by Williams; String Group, under the direction of Helen Rees, performed Drowsy Maggie; Guitar soloist Oliver Beaumont (Y.8) gave an assured performance of Largo from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi; Wind Band, which mainly consists of younger players, gave a wonderful performance of Kim’s Ballad by Watts; Brass Group made a terrific sound together with Funeral Music for Queen Mary by Purcell; the second half of the concert opened with Paul Wisby’s Guitar Group, who played Your Cheating Heart by Hank Williams, closely followed by Bye Bye Love by the Everley Brothers. The ever-popular Jazz Band excelled themselves with their performance of the James Bond Theme, and for something a little different, Nick Dougherty’s Dance Band delighted us with 2 Waltzes and Journey to America.
As always, our concerts have to end with a grand finale and this year was no exception. The entire school was on stage to sing (complete with actions) Greased Lightnin’ by Casey & Jacobs. The audience was bowled over by the enormous sound, which filled the theatre and, of course, they couldn’t go home without hearing it for a second time.
