A Showcase of Talent at ‘RGS Live’
Last Friday evening, we hosted our second annual Pop and Rock Concert in Main Hall. Entitled ‘RGS Live’, this high-quality evening of modern music involved pupils right across the School as they supported one another and performed their own favourite pop and rock songs.
The Guitar Group and Year Ten band played two pieces, while four drummers (James White, Roshan Wijesinghe, Will Hughes and Lucas Wood) each performed a solo song. Harry Edwards gave a reflective piano solo version of ‘Golden Hour’ by JVKE, and there were vocal solos by Eloise Austin Ginger, Lexie Small, Vienna Whale, Kieran Lilley, Winnie Lock, Arthur Hasling, Isabelle Jones, Amelia Morris and Lilah Morgan. Piano accompaniments by Sasha Penlington and Sihan Fu complemented the backing band of Ivan Innocent, Thomas Newman, Mr Garrity and Mr Soman. The first half closed with the self-rehearsed Sixth Form combo ‘Noodle Soup’ performing a moody ‘Glory Box’ by Portishead, and the concert closed with Sixth Form band AKT-II playing three tunes, including ABBA’s ‘Does Your Mother Know’.
Polished performances led to a thoroughly enjoyable evening for the audience and performers alike. Amelia Morris, who sang ‘Girl with One Eye’, said, ‘I loved performing in ‘RGS Live 2024’ because it’s a great way to build my confidence and the atmosphere is amazing!’ Ben Fisher, who played trombone in ‘Noodle Soup’, said, ‘The whole concert was very entertaining, and I thought each of the singers seemed very emotional at the end of their song after they sang so well.’
Headmaster, John Pitt, added, “I always really enjoy this event because the pupils show real courage and take pride in their performances and it is great to see the guitars, electric guitars, drummers and vocalists take centre stage. The absolute highlight is to see Sixth Form students supporting younger pupils and encouraging them, giving them their moment in the spotlight. This is what RGS is all about and I am so proud of them.”
We congratulate all the performers and look forward to many more concerts this year, including the Sixth Form Showcase this Wednesday at 7.00pm in Perrins Hall and the Autumn Concerts on 5 November.