Page 90 - HMS 2020

Music Review
Orchestral Days and Enrichment
A group of promising young musicians travelled to Berkshire in October, for the exciting Downe House Orchestral Day at the Movies. Our pupils enjoyed specialist tuition and full orchestral rehearsals, working alongside pupils from other prep and junior schools to form a massed orchestra of over 200 instrumentalists. Two pupils were also invited to perform in the BAFTA Ensemble, joining the Downe House Symphony Orchestra for a James Bond extravaganza. The day’s work culminated in a spectacular concert, with impressive renditions of Let It Go from Frozen, themes from Harry Potter and Circle of Life from
The Lion King. Congratulations to Laila D, who was awarded the String Musician of the Day prize.
The atmosphere was electric in February as young musicians from 16 schools came together for an epic space-themed concert at Uppingham’s Prep School’s Orchestral Day. During the morning, the children split into sections for strings, woodwind and brass rehearsals before performing in an afternoon concert at the school’s Memorial Hall. A jazz orchestra, string orchestra and wind band played a stellar programme featuring a galaxy of well-known scores including: Fly Me To The Moon, Holst’s The Planets, Fanfare for the Third Planet and The Forge of Vulcan. The children’s efforts culminated in a full orchestra performance of Star Wars: The Last Jedi conducted by Andrew Kennedy – Uppingham’s new Director of Music.
Llangollen International Musical
Eisteddfod 2020
A year on from our incredible day at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod 2019, where Bax Choir was awarded the prestigious Children’s Choir of the World prize, their winning performance
was selected as one of the Folk Choirs for this year’s online festival, Llangollen 2020. Winners of the main choral and dance competitions from the past quarter century were grouped into five categories,
and the worldwide public was invited to vote for their favourite performances. The choristers look forward to their next international adventure: The World Choir Games 2021, Flanders!
National Youth Choirs of Great Britain
Congratulations to Imogen F, Jamie H, Freddie S and Floyd W who join Diggory C, Constance S and Lucy W as members of the prestigious National Youth Choir. NYC Choristers attend residential courses full of music, learning opportunities and social activities, together with 100-150 talented young singers of their age. This is a fantastic and well-deserved achievement for all the children involved.
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