www.abingdon.org.uk 15 Abingdon Music The year’s Solo Platform No. 5 featured a relatively short programme of nine performances, but one of enormous quality that testified to the wealth of musical talent that we have at school. The opening item featured brothers and former New College Choristers, Oscar and Edward Bennett giving a most effective performance of Vaughan Williams’ arrangement of the beautiful folksong, Linden Lea, which they sang as an a cappella duet. We heard two clarinettists, Toby Williams in a lovely performance of Mendelssohn’s Song Without Words and 4th Year Stanley Wong’s performance of Saint-Saëns’ Sonata (allegro). Both were beautifully controlled and with a lovely legato line throughout. We enjoyed a total of six piano performances, all accomplished in their different ways. Elliot Liddle played a Chopin Mazurka, Justin Yeung a Poulenc Novelette, Laurence Peverall a Mozart Sonata (adagio), Yubo Gao a Mozart Sonata (allegro con spirito), Thomas Zhang Chopin’s Waltz in C sharp minor and finally, Walter Liu in Beethoven’s C major Piano Sonata in C Op2 No 3 (allegro con brio). The quality of the pupils’ playing was outstanding and it was a hugely enjoyable concert – our thanks and congratulations to all the pupils and their teachers. Solo Platform No. 5 It was wonderful to be able to arrange a live and full end of year Summer Concert in June. Our First Orchestra started the first half in a performance of Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto in Eb. Played with great accuracy and artistry by the three soloists (Laurence Peverall, Lachlan Keene and Oliver Hobbs) on a different Eb trumpet, kindly purchased by the School’s Music Society. Our Chamber Orchestra played next – first a pair of arias from Handel’s Messiah sung by Upper Sixth bass soloist, Jamie Robson, who sang with great conviction and musicianship. He was soon followed by Oliver Glover who played Gabriel’s Oboe, from the film ‘The Mission’. Under Mr Townsend’s direction, the Concert Band was next up, allowing us to hear a group of rousing marches including The British Grenadiers, Scipio, Slaidburn and Rule Britannia. Under Simon Currie’s inimitable leadership, the Big Band presented three tunes – Splanky (Count Basie), Blue Bossa (Henderson) and Feeling Good. It was great to hear some new soloists and to hear Upper Sixth vocalist, Aidan Chan, who was very much in his element. After the interval we heard from Jazz Inc. - a mixed staff and jazz quintet who played two numbers: Nostalgia in Times Square and The Theme from Monsters Inc. The Gospel Choir, under Dr Jason Preece’s direction, performed a couple of songs; Mr Blue Sky, and Time after Time. Accompanied by the staff ensemble, the choir sang with their normal palpable sense of enjoyment mixed with a tinge of nostalgia for the Upper Sixth for whom it was the last singing opportunity of their school career. The Second Orchestra played music from Harry Potter, Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No 1 and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Dance of the Tumblers, with confidence and panache. Our First Orchestra rounded off the concert with Weber’s Bassoon Concerto (first movement) with soloist, Josef O’Connor who stunned us with his technical authority and the rich quality of his voice. Before the last performance, the first movement of Dvorak’s great Symphony No 8 in G (which was joined by Mr Windsor in the double bass section), we said farewell to a great group of leaving musicians, and their parents, together with teacher and Chapel Choir Director, Mr Treadaway. We are looking forward with anticipation to July 2023, when we plan to reward our musicians with an exciting European tour to Abingdon’s twin towns. Summer Concert 2022
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