Captivating Performances and New Audiences
In the week before Half term, RGS Musicians enjoyed two off-site performances, taking our music to new, eager audiences
Making Music at RGS The Grange
On Monday 22 May, the RGS Wind Band, comprising wind and percussion players from Years Seven to Year Ten visited RGS The Grange to perform in a Spring Concert.
Most of the concert was given by ensembles and choirs from RGS The Grange and the concert culminated in our Wind Band’s performance of two very contrasting pieces on their own – the exciting ‘Terminal Velocity’ and the folksong arrangements ‘Three Ayres from Gloucester’ – before RGS The Grange’s own Wind Band joined ours in a closing performance of Richard Saucedo‘s intense ‘Scorpion’. The sound of the mass band was tremendous and the Prep School pupils loved playing alongside our older players who, in turn, generously encouraged and supported the younger players. RGS The Grange, and their Head of Music Mrs Keetley-Smith in particular, made our Wind Band very welcome indeed and it was lovely to join the younger pupils for a concert
Opera Worcester Opportunity for RGS pupils
The following Saturday, five of our Music Scholars performed as part of Opera Worcester’s Community Choir’s ‘Mini-Proms’ concert in St Marks Church, Worcester. Violinists Arthur Hasling and Nicole Penlington played flashy showpieces by Mussorgsky and Monti respectively, and Finlay Hilton played Saint-Saens much-loved ‘The Swan’ beautifully on his ‘cello. In the second half, Isabelle Jones, who also accompanied the choir on her flute in two pieces, played an evocative solo by Christopher Bell after Ben Brierly played Debussy’s ‘Claire De Lune’ with poise and polish on the piano. Arthur, Nicole and Finlay reunited in the second half to play the first movement of Bach’s Concerto in D minor for Two Violins with great conviction. The audience thoroughly enjoyed the whole concert, which ended with traditional waving of the Union Jacks and a version of the National Anthem.
We congratulate all who took part in these Music Concerts and next week we look forward to our Year Seven Teatime Concert which we encourage everyone to come along and enjoy!