CH School Concert
This article was written by one of our Young Reporters, a scheme that gives 14 to 18-year-old school students a chance to write for a real newspaper. Find out more at the Young Reporter website.
On the 30th of November, many people came to watch the school concert, a display of some of the many musical ensembles found at Christ’s Hospital.
The concert consisted of orchestras and choirs in the first half (intermediate and symphony orchestras, chamber orchestra, schola cantorum and junior choir), and the two school bands (training and senior band) in the second half.
It began at 3 with the Symphony Orchestra performing Waltz No.2 from the Suite for Jazz Orchestra by Shostakovich.
This piece featured the alto saxophone played beautifully by Bob, setting a positive mood for the rest of the concert.
The orchestra then played a Pirates of the Caribbean medley, a stark contrast to the soft, drifting feel the jazz waltz had set.
After a brief interval, the training band took to the stage, playing the marches Colonel Bogey and Liberty Bell, with a drum static in between.
Audience member Adaugo said that the drum static was a highlight of the concert, saying that ‘It was cool, it really caught my attention.’ She had also enjoyed listening to the junior choir sing How Far I’ll Go from the movie Moana, describing it as 'sweet and heartwarming.’
The senior band performance concluded the concert, playing Takahashi’s arrangement of The Great Gate of Kiev from Mussorgsky’s Pictures from an Exhibition.
Instrumentalist and fellow Young Reporter Tess found the Pirates of the Caribbean to be the bet-sounding piece of the concert, as well as the Waltz by Shostakovich.
Out of the three ensembles she performed with (symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, and the senior band) she had enjoyed playing in the chamber orchestra, describing the music as ‘interesting’ and ‘fun to play.’
She also added that playing the pieces — which had included a Danish string quartet arrangement of Stædelil, as well as A New Satisfaction — in a smaller group was fun.
Adaugo highly recommended watching the concert, saying that it was ‘worth the money’ and that ‘you get to hear many different sounds.’
Many more concerts are planned for the term ahead.
