www.abingdon.org.uk 15 Abingdon Music Lower School gala concert At the end of a busy couple of weeks, Friday 16 June saw the whole of the Lower School come together in the Amey Theatre for the annual Lower School gala concert. There was a varied selection of music making from the Lower School Band playing a medley of tunes from The Lion King, to the Junior Rock Society getting the crowd involved with Blur’s Song 2. Particular credit goes to all the soloists - Owen Nagi and Brian Chu from the 1st Year, and Felix, Louis, Justin, Harish and George from the 2nd Year. They all rose to the occasion wonderfully. Sheldonian concert Ahead of the Music tour to Argentan, Colmar, Paris and Sint-Niklaas, a pre tour concert was held at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford on 30 June. This was an excellent opportunity for our First and Second Orchestras, plus Big Band, the Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble to come together and perform some of the tour programme before a live audience. The musicians played a great variety of modern and traditional pieces to an exceptionally proficient standard receiving rapturous applause from a most appreciative audience. Eight promising musicians took part in the Junior Solo Competition in May. Adjudicated by Sean Fitzpatrick, Music Director at Abingdon Prep, the event welcomed those who have not yet taken their Grade 6 examinations. Performances included Oboists (Oscar and Irfan), clarinettist (Toby), 2 pianists (Jamie and Laurence), violist (Kwame), bassist (Ethan) and trumpeter (Felix). All the students gave performances of a very high standard. The 2nd and 3rd prizes were shared between Laurence (Schmitz’ Progression One) and Irfan (Tchaikovsky’s Land of Desolation, Land of Mists), with 1st prize going to Felix for his lovely performance of the slow movement of Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto. Junior solo competition This year saw each tutor group perform a song on the stage of the Amey Theatre. Each group provided their own conductor and instrumentalists and had been responsible for running their own rehearsals. All performed to a very high standard and judge, Mr Stinton, had a difficult job deciding who would win the trophy. Victory, by the narrowest of margins, went to 2H with their performance of Beggin’ by Maneskin. Lower School music competition Mus6 Music tour A group of musical students and staff departed on 4 July for Abingdon’s Twin Towns of Argentan, Colmar, Paris and Sint-Niklaas, as they embarked on Mr Stinton’s final Music Tour of his Abingdon career. The actionpacked itinerary included a myriad of receptions and concerts with time also set aside for some sightseeing. Particular highlights included orchestral concerts in Falaise; and the L’Eglise de la Madeleine, Paris; a concert given by l’Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse; as well as participation in the Colmar Symphonic Mob with Frankfurt Radio Orchestra; and Big Band performances in Falaise; Grote Markt, Sint-Niklaas and Le Grand Hall, Paris. The experience was truly memorable and one which will be treasured by all who were lucky enough to go. Lower School music competition
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