‘Also sprach Zarathustra’, that famous stirring fanfare by Strauss, opened our Autumn Concert and set the tone for an amazing evening of music from our large ensembles and choirs. Queen were on stage next (posing as the Concert Orchestra) in an exciting medley of songs from that inimitable group ably led as usual by Ms Leisha Zanardo. Conabor Choir revealed their Hallowe’en (ok, maybe a little late) suite in ‘The Bat’ and ‘Someone came knocking’, ably accompanied by our newest addition to the music staff, Mr Fearghus Fallon.

Another new member of the music team, Miss Emily Newman-Pond, led Cremona Strings in a rendition of a Vivaldi Concerto for Strings. Cantemus Chorus, gearing up for Chicago, gave us two little jazz standards of an astronomical nature with ‘Fly me to the moon’ and ‘How high the moon’, directed by our Head of Vocal Studies, Miss Jenny Bacon. Mr Patrick Dodds then led the Brass Ensemble back on the stage for ‘In dreams’ from the film ‘The Lord of the Rings’.

‘Mamma mia!’ - and following the brass, what a performance of it from the Brunner Show Choir led from the piano by Miss Leisha Zanardo. Next the spotlight was on Year 10 student Anna R-B as she played the trumpet for Torelli’s Trumpet Concerto, accompanied by the Senior Strings directed by our Head of Strings, Miss Laura Dodds. We then had a little Seville moment with some of the pieces we learned whilst away at half-term, firstly ‘Flamenco’ and ‘Suave Respiro’ played by the Seville Ensmeble and written for the tour by Miss Leisha Zanardo. Then two a capella items directed by Miss Jenny Bacon, ‘Simple gifts’ and ‘El Vito’. The Symphony Orchestra closed the evening with a movement from Rimsky - Korsakov’s ‘Scheherazade’ and Verdi’s Grand March from ‘Aïda’.

It was a delight to have a full house and an incredibly appreciative audience acknowledging the superb performances that our students had given. It was fully deserved! We were unable to video the evening, but you can listen to it HERE