Abingdon News No. 57

www.abingdon.org.uk 17 Abingdon Music Composing for the harp Lachlan Keene in the Third Year joined the Other Half activity, Composers’ Workshop, and crafted a short piece for the harp which was performed by Olivia Jageurs, a London-based harpist, who has pledged to record any compositions sent to her provided they are under 15 seconds in length. Sixth Form Performance Evening Our second streamed concert of the term, consisted of 11 home-recorded solo performances by sixth form pupils who were helped by ‘piano backing tracks’ put together by music teachers. Taking part were woodwind, brass, piano, strings and voice and we were particular pleased to welcome sixth formers from Hong Kong. Solo Concert Platform No 3 Our first concert of 2021 was compiled and streamed with 15 solo performances that had been recorded at home by pupils from Lower School to the Upper Sixth. The concert saw some outstanding performances across a variety of solo instruments. The concert also gave opportunities for several fifth year GCSE musicians to air their solo pieces. Fifth year music scholar, Oliver Simpson, has won first prize in the 2021 International Music Competition, “London” Grand Prize Virtuoso, in the 13 to 15 age category. The competition is open to all performers in strings, piano, wind and vocal and there were entries from 71 countries across the world. Oliver played Chopin’s Introduction and Polonaise Brillante, arranged for cello and piano. The prize gives him a medal and a concert in the Elgar Rooms at the Royal Albert Hall. You can watch the video of his stunning performance on the news section of the website. Fifth Year Performance Evening The Fifth Year Performance Evening saw 19 excellent solo performances from a wide spread of talented musicians representing all five areas of instrumental teaching in the school – woodwind, brass, singing, strings and piano. The concert replaced the usual GCSE solo performance and it gave the pupils a much wider audience to demonstrate the very exciting talent that we have in this year group. Solo Concert Platform No 4 Our second concert platform of 2021 showcased 21 solo performances from pupils in Lower School to the Upper Sixth. We were delighted to hear so many talented musicians who have continued to enjoy their music throughout lockdown. International music success