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www.abingdon.org.uk 15 Abingdon Music and Drama O’Doherty’s picked up first prize at this year’s House Singing Competition with Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling”, recreating an authentic 1960’s feel with an impressive instrumental backing. Third place went to Southwell-Sander’s with an excellent rendition of “Let it Go” from Frozen - the boys were complimented for being “supremely on top of the song’s demands”. Morgan’s picked up second place with “I’ll Make a Man out of You”, from the musical, Mulan . Chapel Choir sang Evensong at Tewkesbury Abbey to a very appreciative congregation and many thanks to James Anderson-Besant (OA 2016) for accompanying them on the organ. O’Doherty’s steal the show! Following last year’s inaugural success, the Senior Solo Competition saw 11 very talented musicians perform to an exceptional standard on piano, violin, cello and flute. Dr Benjamin Skipp, oboist, pianist, ABRSM examiner and Lecturer and Director of Studies in Music at Hertford and Somerville Colleges, had the unenviable task of adjudication. The standard was extremely high and many congratulations to fifth former, Didier Delgorge who won the competition. Richard Burkhard’s masterclass was a phenomenal occasion for the School’s singers. Richard has worked as a solo bass-baritone at some of the most famous opera houses in the world – Opera North, New Zealand, ENO, Scottish Opera, ROH and the Bolshoi. He was fascinating and enjoyable to watch and his warmth and generosity with the boys allowed their performances to grow in confidence and to improve exponentially. Evensong Tewkesbury Abbey Opera Workshop Senior Solo Competition The Christmas concerts were an opportunity for all the School’s senior bands and orchestras, ably supported by the younger years, to show their work this term. The First Orchestra welcomed the chance to practise some of the pieces they will take on tour to Bielefeld in February. Christmas Concert