Highlight of the Week

Musical feast at St Cecilia's Day Concert

An audience of around 300 were treated to a concert of stunning proportions and quality last Saturday. Our Concert for St Cecilia's Day was indeed eagerly awaited, but by all accounts audience expectations were greatly exceeded. Involving nearly 170 pupils, plus a number of teachers and professional musicians, the evening served to exhibit all the splendour and delight of Cathedral School music-making at Senior School level, enriched by our highest-level Juniors.

A dazzling rendition of James Bond themes, played by Senior Orchestra was followed by String Ensemble, which included Karl Jenkins' acclaimed ‘Adiemus'. Senior Flute Choir, Sinfonia and Brass Ensemble both gave impressive performances, perhaps with Sinfonia's foot-tapping, ‘Jazz Train' as an audience highlight. Brass Ensemble and Trumpet Quartet numbered 20 musicians, finishing their contribution with a fulsome rendition of Dixieland classic, ‘Storeyville Stomp'. Jazz Band - our 24-strong Swing Band - lifted everyone's spirits, culminated with the iconic, ‘In the Mood'. To finish the first half, our finest percussion groups demonstrated superb ensemble interaction.

Numbering over 30 singers, our leading Junior choir, Cantemus, won the hearts of their listeners, bringing smiles all round with Mrs Plaut's effective arrangement of ‘Feeling Groovy'. The Boy Choristers and Choral Scholars were on typically fine form, and each with distinctive, polished musical characteristics. To culminate, Senior Chamber Choir - numbering around 70 - delivered a magnificent performance of Fauré's Requiem, distinguished particularly by passages of really sumptuous singing, together with areas of profound tenderness and beauty. Very many congratulations to everyone who was involved in this remarkable concert.