St Mary's Calne
On a warm and sunny May evening, the Fourth Form Music Festival culminated in a spectacular adjudicated Celebration Concert. We were delighted to welcome Rebecca Cavill back to St Mary’s as this year’s adjudicator; a former Head of Music here and now Head of Pre-Prep at Cheam, she brought her expertise and passion to the event.
The audience was treated to a vibrant mix of musical styles, ranging from rock and pop to musical theatre, jazz, and classical gems. The evening began with the Novizia class, where Nancy and Sophia showcased their incredible promise on the flute, Lucy captivated the audience with a beautiful lullaby, and pianist Yumi played a jazzy piece with style and confidence.
Next, the Apprendista class took the stage, with Emilia and Lapo delivering drum performances with verve and energy, Charlotte singing a Schubert piece with poise, and Isabella playing Elgar on the saxophone with a rich, warm tone. Holly charmed the audience with her lyrical piano performance, and Liliana brought strength and soul to her bass guitar rendition of a classic song.
The concert continued with the Maestro class, where performers demonstrated impressive mastery of their instruments. Mia delivered an assured vocal jazz performance, while Occy and Letty each sang musical theatre numbers, all three engaging the audience with their expressive performances. Georgia played the clarinet with sensitivity and elegance, and Catrina showcased her exceptional musicality on the piano.
Finally, the Virtuoso class featured truly outstanding performances from pianists Suri, Kate, and Katelyn, who dazzled with their emotive playing and technical skill. We were also thrilled to witness Selina’s captivating performance on the guzheng, a traditional Chinese instrument, which many in the audience had never encountered before.
During the adjudication, Mr Sandon-Williams and Amelia entertained the crowd with a delightful piano duet of The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Miss Wilby’s Jazz Friday band performed a medley of Taylor Swift songs, featuring a emotive performance by vocalist Delphina.
After a thoughtful and encouraging review of each performer, Mrs Cavill had the difficult task of selecting the prize winners. The Novizia class award went to Sophia (flute), the Apprendista prize was claimed by Lapo (drums), the Maestro award was given to Georgia (clarinet), and Selina (guzheng) won the Virtuoso prize. Georgia was ultimately named the overall trophy winner, celebrating her outstanding achievements in the festival.
It was an inspiring evening, highlighting the incredible talent, dedication, and passion of all the young performers. Congratulations to all.
If you would like to enjoy the concert, click here to watch.
Mrs Rachel Allard, Director of the Fourth Form Music Festival