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Now a regular fixture in the Music Calendar, this year’s Autumn Concert took place in Chapel on Thursday, 14th November, marking the first major outing of the year for all of the school’s major instrumental ensembles.

The Symphony Orchestra got the concert underway in spectacular fashion, with Kirsten starring in a performance of the last movement from Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto. Strictly Strings then took over with a jaunty dance from Peter Warlock’s Capriol Suite, before Charlie B and Shubha performed their prizewinning collaboration as the winners of this year’s Songwriting Competition. The School Band produced two favourites by Billy Joel and Lewis Capaldi, with Felicity, Leah and Charlie H all featuring as soloists, before Shubha returned for another starring role with Holly in the first movement of Bach’s Double Violin Concerto with the String Sinfonia.

The Wind Band took centre stage for two more popular numbers in the shape of Don’t stop believing and I’ll stand by you, before the String Quartet gave us a flavour of the season ahead with three accomplished movements from Corelli’s Christmas Concerto. Finally, the Opera Ensemble brought the curtain down with two more show-stopping numbers, Eleanor Rigby and In my life.

The result was a most entertaining and varied evening, so congratulations go to all the girls who took part, as well as the hours of preparation from the Music Staff, both in the rehearsals and behind the scenes. We also acknowledge the efforts of Lydia, Flora, Lauren, Elan, Charlotte, Tessa, Izzy, Belinda and Kristina, all of whom interspersed the major ensemble items with beautifully executed solos. As Dr Kirk remarked in her closing words afterwards, there aren’t many places where you can go and hear music from Bach to the Beatles via Beethoven, Brahms and Brubeck in one evening!

Mr Chris Totney, Director of Keyboard Studies