Abingdon News No.59

18 January 2022 Abingdon Music We were delighted to welcome the concert pianist and teacher, Masayuki Tayama to work with six of Abingdon’s promising young pianists. He was an encouraging and clear communicator, passionate about piano playing and hugely knowledgeable, both technically and musically. Mr Tayama has a distinguished career in the UK and abroad as a piano recitalist and concerto soloist. Lower School Concert The Concert Platform showcased the high level of musical talent that has been sustained during the stresses and strains of lockdown. There was an incredibly high standard of playing overall, across a diverse range of repertoire. Solo Concert Platform Number 1 Later in the term, the second Solo Concert Platform saw 17 impressive performances on piano, strings, brass and woodwind. Piano Masterclass Joint Choral Society It was a pleasure to hear the Joint Choral Society with St Helen’s back in fine voice performing the operetta, The Pirates of Penzance. It was wonderful to see the two schools on stage together again. Lower school pupils came together to perform in front of their peers in the termly Lunchtime Concert. We heard from an impressive range of soloists and ensembles and concluded with the Star Wars theme from the Lower School Band.