19 May 2022
The Junior Solo Competition was a fantastic event and a real opportunity to get a taste of what’s in store for Music at Abingdon School. We’re very grateful to Anna Leon, Director of Music at Ashfold School, for joining us as our adjudicator.
We were certainly not short of accomplished performances, making the evening extremely challenging for our adjudicator! Toby Williams first opened the concert with a sensitively played and well controlled rendition of Barbara Arlen’s ‘Moonbeams’; and then went on with a Mendelssohn ‘Song Without Words’ on the clarinet which was played with a full tone and careful attention to the shape of each phrase. Zack Weekes’ performance of ‘Changing Times’ captured the jazzy atmosphere of the piece and made the most of its contrasting tempos.
Kwame Abayateye impressed us with an accomplished rendition of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Waltz from Sleeping Beauty’ before Nikhil Harie gave an exciting performance of ‘The Pretender’ by Foo Fighters featuring a well-managed guitar solo. Benjamin Byrne’s stirring performance of ‘See the Conquering Hero Come’ impressed with its superbly controlled tone. Edward Winter’s Diabelli ‘Sonatina in G major’ offered a carefully controlled left hand which allowed the right hand to really sing out. The concert was rounded off with a jaunty performance of a ‘Sea Song’ on bassoon by Harold Lethaby.
After much deliberation, Miss Leon’s choice for 3rd place was Harold Lethaby’s Sea Song; 2nd place went to Kwame Abayateye’s Waltz; and 1st place to Benjamin Byrne’s ‘See the Conquering Hero’. Many congratulations to all those who performed and special mention must go to Benjamin, who has come so far since starting the French Horn here as a first year student. A worthy winner indeed.
