Music Department News
Music News - Summer 2008
The RGS term came to the usual hectic conclusion with the Music Department on show six times in the final two and a half weeks. The Open Air Concert (Sunday, 6th July) lost its yearly confrontation with the English weather, taking place in the Queen’s Hall, but a good time was had by all, with the evening coming to a climax with the RGS Big Band in fine fettle, playing their repertoire of dance band numbers under the inspired leadership of Mr. Jay Craig, who encouraged all present to have a fling on the dance floor – which a fair few did!! Mr Craig flew down from Scotland following a gig the night before, and his dedication to the Big Band has been a major factor in their development – thank you, Mr. Craig!!
The following day, the choir bundled into two coaches and went over to sing evensong in Magdalen College Chapel, in Oxford – an annual treat for the choir, which was well supported by an enthusiastic group of parents – the chapel was full of choir and parents! The acoustics in Magdalen are truly inspiring, and the choir, which has been in excellent shape this year, sounded splendid, singing Howells Canticles “Collegium Regale” and Finzi’s “God is gone up”.
Thursday was the day the juniors took centre stage, and they produced one of the best junior concerts I can remember, with many highlights (Junior Choir, a Mozart string Quintet) and especially the piano playing of Joshua Hagley (Year 8), who leaves us this year to go to the Purcell School of Music, where we wish him well. Joshua gave a stunning performance of the last movement of the Ravel Sonatine – breath-taking!
And then to Friday, when the First Wind Band boarded a coach to Birmingham, where they played in Symphony Hall in the National Festival of Music for Youth – a tremendous credit to the school and to the dedication that our musicians display on a regular basis. This is the sixth year in succession that one or more of our groups have been invited to play at the National Festival, a deserved recognition of the quality of music-making that goes on at RGS.
The following Monday and Tuesday saw the musicians playing in both prize giving ceremonies, with the Trad Jazz Band, whose young membership have really come on in leaps and bounds this year, well to the fore. Well done to you all!
Many of our top musicians then went off to Lake Garda on the Music Centre tour, including your venerable Director of Music, and the year has been rounded off nicely with our Year 13 musicians coming up with an outstanding set of A level results, with a 100% A and B grades – terrific! What a year!
