Abingdon News No.51

Summer Concert Chamber Orchestra opened the concert playing two pieces from Benjamin Britten’s Simple Symphony – Playful Pizzicato and Frolicsome Finale . The Second Orchestra followed with first year pupil, Arthur Robertson at the helm in his conducting debut and First Orchestra concluded the first half. The Bands followed the interval with Jazz Band and Brass Band in fine form. The finale belonged to Big Band with two pieces Yoko Kanno’s Tank and Herbie Hancock’s Watermelon Man . For the last 14 years the piano has been the instrument of choice for some of the world’s finest pianists at the South Bank Centre – the Royal Festival Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Purcell Room. The third and final phase of this year’s solo competitions, the junior category, saw five performances adjudicated by William Morris, Director of Music at the Dragon School. There were some really impressive performances from first to fourth year students on woodwind, brass, strings and piano. Congratulations to Robin Collins who picked up first prize. Junior Solo Competition 16 Chapel Choir sings Evensong at Coventry Cathedral The Choir was inspired by the story of the Cathedral’s rebuild after the Second World War and the singers quickly adjusted to the cavernous space and sung with gusto. Japan and Hong Kong pre-tour Concert A pre-tour concert, some 36 hours before setting off for Tokyo, gave the First Orchestra and Big Band an opportunity of a play-through of their tour repertoire in front of a large audience of families and supporters. The concert was preceded by a garden party in Lacies Court hosted by the Headmaster with around 250 guests – parents, OAs, staff and governors. The lovely sunny evening gave us a perfect opportunity to thank the many people who have made such an ambitious tour a possibility. Abingdon Music and Drama