Virtual Pianists
At 6.50 pm on Tuesday I nervously sat in my living room hoping to run a school concert online from my armchair; an hour later I breathed a deep and sincere sigh of relief after what had been a hugely successful and enjoyable Piano Concert.
Seven talented and wonderfully-willing pianists from across RGS Worcester agreed to perform live from their homes to a virtual audience, and what a virtual audience it was: with 57 different people on the Google Meet at the peak, well over 100 audience members – including extended family, fellow students, alumni and teachers – thoroughly enjoying meeting together around some stunning music. The programme was as follows:
Liam Leonard – Bartók: Allegro Barbaro, Sz.49
Luke Jones – Thomas Peter-Horas: Sarah
Heini Hughes – Chopin: Nocturne in G minor, Op.37 No.1
Noah Davison – Bruch: Moderato from Six Piano Pieces, Op.12
Isabella Hulbert – Beethoven: Adagio Cantabile from Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor Op.13 ‘Pathétique’
Sasha Penlington – Debussy: Prelude from Pour Le Piano, L.95
Megan Wang – Chopin: Nocturne in E minor, Op.72 No.1
These seven pieces provided real contrast from the piano, with the fire of Liam’s Bartok and the virtuosity of Sasha’s fiendishly-impressive Debussy contrasting the lyricism and beauty of the other works. Luke, Noah and Bella sang out their sumptuous melodic lines with clarity, with Megan and Heini both showcasing a Chopin Nocturne with finesse and care. As one audience member wrote after the concert, ‘it was absolutely perfect for how we are all feeling at the moment and was a tonic’.
The concert experience was rounded off by the Headmaster thanking the performers and the Music department for the concert, and parents, grandparents, staff and Governors for attending the concert. Audience members were able to express their support with the effective use of the ‘chat’ function on Google Meet. Our thanks go to the performers, their families (for letting us into their homes) and the audience who, all combined, made this first virtual concert such a triumph.
Written by Jonathan Soman, Director of Music