APS News No.25

ABINGDON PREP NEWS www.abingdon.org.uk/prep 13 David Bicarregui I spent nine years at Abingdon Prep from 2006-2015. Now, at 18, that clocks in at half my life. Like me, the school changed hugely from my first day to my last, most obviously in its name, which, when I started, was “Josca’s’”. Needless to say, rumours about who “Josca” could have been were endless, from a former pupil to the ghost that still haunted the classrooms! I will always look back fondly on my time at Abingdon Prep. I remember the forest at the bottom of the playground clearly and the exciting occasions that we were allowed to enter it. It was like Harry Potter’s “Forbidden Forest” with uncountable mysteries for me and my friends to discover between the trees! Other memories include long afternoons sitting in the hall during far-too-warm rehearsals for the summer concerts, lazy Friday afternoon English lessons, and the yearly play or musical; in Year 8, I was Mrs Hudson in Sherlock Holmes ! But it was this creative atmosphere that the school possessed which was so important, allowing me to grow and develop under the guidance of teachers who felt like they were a part of the very foundations of the building! I believe that without my time at Abingdon Prep I would not have developed such a love of music and art and that has made me want to study music. One piece of advice that I would give to current pupils is to just enjoy it! Have fun and make the most out of your years at Abingdon Prep! And now: Since moving to Abingdon, David has achieved Grade 8 Distinctions in piano, voice and flute. He has performed concertos with several orchestras in Oxford, most recently, Chopin’s Second Piano Concerto , alongside writing and publishing his own music with his band Malorie. He has sung in productions of La bohème and Carmen and received the 2020 Michael Pendred Opera Award. As a writer, David has received prizes for his poetry. Next year, he will take one of 12 offers awarded to the Royal Northern College of Music and Manchester University’s prestigious Joint Course to study music and singing. “ ” Singing now – David in his A level recital. David and Joe on the Abingdon School music tour to Japan & Hong Kong in 2019. David in Reception. Joe and David enjoying sports day in Year 3 at the Prep School