10 Abingdon Prep • January 2024 CHRISTMAS CAROLS MUSIC What better way to begin the festive season than our APS Christmas performances, and this year really got off to a fabulous start with the Pre-Prep Nativity and Junior Carol Concert in school, and the Senior Carol Service in the beautiful setting of St Helen’s Church in Abingdon. The Junior Carol Service was an utter delight from beginning to end. From the poignant singing of ‘Follow that Star’ to the more jovial and upbeat rendition of ‘Jingle Bells’, everyone performed with enthusiasm and confidence. Accomplished musical solos from Alex and Wilson on the piano made this evening a real treat for all who attended, and every single student in Year 3 and Year 4 participated in class poems, speaking with clarity and projection and setting the scene for a really impressive and magical experience. Our Senior Carol Service began with Arthur’s beautifully sung solo opening verse of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’. This was followed by an array of readings, instrumental ensembles and singing, bringing some fantastic musicality and sense of occasion to the evening, from ‘Walking in the Air’ performed by the orchestra, to Guitar Ensemble’s confident ‘Carol of the Bells’. Cellisimo gave us a poignant rendition of ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ and a little light relief came in the form of Jazz Band, where several students took their first steps into improvisation. The choirs did themselves proud with all the hard work put in to developing tone, range and part singing, evident in the confidence with which everyone rose to the occasion, as did our outstanding soloists Vincent, Leo and Arjun. PLATFORM CONCERTS Special thanks to Lizzie for choosing the readings and coaching the readers and to Lenka for her support with the choirs. Thanks also to Christopher FletcherCampbell for accompanying us, and to our VMT’s, both those who were there at the Senior Carol Service to direct ensembles, and to those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to guide and inspire the children. Our new Director of Music, Emma Penfold, comments: “As a music teacher, putting together events like this can seem like a daunting task, especially when you are new to a school, but the support and enthusiasm from the students and staff was limitless, and I am sure every parent felt rightly proud of the outstanding performances the children gave, from their very first experience in front of an audience in the Nativity, through to the more seasoned Year 8 soloists in the Senior Carol Service.” The students’ natural motivation to be the best they can be translates to an innate love of performing, and nowhere is this clearer than the regular Concert Platforms at APS. Now open to the whole school, they have been a big success, particularly with Year 2 pupils who are only just starting their musical journey. Featuring pieces by Ed Sheeran to Rachmaninov, played on drumkit to cello and everything in between, and supported by our wonderful VMTs and parents, these opportunities for more informal musical outings continue to go from strength to strength.
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