7
Abingdon
Music and Drama
Musicians triumph at the
Royal Festival Hall
May Day at Magdalen College
Chapel Choir was invited to sing Choral Evening Prayer at Magdalen College on May
Day - a rare privilege as the College seldom permits visiting choirs to sing in Chapel. To
do so, on the day of the year when Magdalen College is the centre of Oxford’s attention
as the leader of May Day celebrations, was a great honour. There were superb solo
contributions from Hugh Cutting, Mitch Keely, Owen Ravden and Thomas Keogh. The
service was expertly accompanied by James Anderson-Besant on the Chamber Organ.
Eleven of Abingdon’s musicians took part in a
hugely memorable inter-school performance of
Richard Strauss’ Alpine Symphony alongside his
Four Last Songs at a concert at London’s Royal
Festival Hall. The work is rarely performed due to
the very large orchestra required (around 120). The
concert was a triumph and particularly memorable
for the fine horn solo from Abingdon’s own
Alexander Foster, who played Principal Horn.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
... sort of ...
Shakespeare’s timeless comedy was given a makeover in this abbreviated
version by members of the Lower School Drama Club. “It’s Shakespeare, Jim,
but not as we know it”. Fast, furious and full of storytelling fun, this was a roller-
coaster performance.
The Summer Concert was a fitting
finale to a very successful year for the
Music Department. Highlights included:
original compositions from the pen of
Mitchell Keely, virtuosic horn playing from
Alexander Foster, expressive singing from
Hugh Cutting and excellent ensemble
playing from our senior bands and
orchestras.
The upcoming talent of the Second
Orchestra was extremely exciting as it
gives us much to look forward to as these
younger musicians move up the school
and take the place of the extremely
talented boys who leave us this year.
120 boys from the Lower School
entertained a captive audience in a
programme of wonderful variety.
A Fitting Finale
Lower School
Gala Concert
