www.abingdon.org.uk 15 Abingdon Music House singing After a two year hiatus, our House singing competition returned to the Amey Theatre in October, bringing everyone together to enjoy an afternoon of music-making. We were treated to an eclectic range of songs. As ever, Abba provided solid choices for a couple of Houses while ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’ - an apt choice for our setting - got the audience moving. Pygott’s navigated the twists and turns of the Meatloaf epic ‘I will do anything for love’ amongst a batch of rousing stadium anthems. New Housemaster, Mr Stockdale, almost steered his charges to victory with a confident and stylish rendition of ‘I Want It That Way’ but he was knocked off top spot by Donnelly’s neatly arranged and musical performance of ‘Counting Stars’ by One Republic. We are grateful to our adjudicator, Ian Donald, former Head of Music at Hampton School, and the staff in the Music Department who worked closely with Mr Dawswell to ensure this event went so smoothly and, of course, the pupils themselves. On 7 October, we hosted the first Twinning Association Concert which is designed to broadcast the musical talents of schools and musical organisations in and around the town of Abingdon, to our Twin Towns. The evening didn’t disappoint with band performances from the Abingdon Concert Band, the big band of St Helen and St Katharine and the Abingdon Town Band, featuring Mr Simmons (Head of Physics); as well as stunning performances from Abingdon, Larkmead School, Radley and the Abingdon Operatic Society. Twinning concert Choir sings at Mercers’ Hall Service On a cold December morning, the Chapel Choir made their annual trip to Mercers’ Hall in London to sing in a Service preceding General Court. Abingdon School has long been affiliated with the Livery Company and, this year, our choir performed ‘Lord for Thy Tender Mercies’ Sake’ by John Hilton, as well as Ralph Vaughan Williams’ ‘O Taste and See’, with the treble solo beautifully sung by Luca Baleanu (1st Year). The students were back just in time for the 2nd of our annual Christmas Concerts at School! Carols on handbells The bellringing club took a break from their usual ringing of the tower bells of St Helen’s Church at their practice this week to try their hand at ringing some Christmas carols on handbells. Jingle Bells and Good King Wenceslas were among the tunes that were successfully attempted and everyone left the tower feeling suitably festive.
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