The final week of term brought two exceptional musical events that demonstrated the breadth, depth and ambition of music across the school. Together, they showcased the commitment of more than a hundred students, ranging from the youngest instrumentalists to seasoned Sixth Form performers.
Ensembles Concert
On Tuesday evening, Holy Trinity Church hosted the annual Ensembles Concert, featuring more than 120 students. The programme spanned an impressively wide musical landscape, including works from Holst through to modern arrangements of Taylor Swift, reflecting both the diversity of ensemble activity in the school and the enthusiasm of the performers.
A standout moment came from the Lower School Orchestra, whose spirited St Patrick’s Day performance of Lord of the Dance was met with smiles from both players and audience, further enlivened by a surprise dancing accompaniment from the church balcony. Upper Sixth vocalists Milo Hyde, Ralph Moggs and Daniel Bristow added to the evening’s highlights with expressive solo performances alongside the Big Band.
The concert also included polished contributions from a range of chamber groups. The Lower Brass and Brass Ensembles delivered confident, well-blended performances, while the Intermediate Wind Quintet demonstrated impressive maturity and musical awareness. The newly formed Lower School Choir made its debut appearance, marking an exciting step forward for younger vocalists.
St John Passion
Later in the week, students and staff presented an ambitious performance of St John Passion, supported by a small number of professional instrumentalists from Southern Pro Musica. The event demonstrated remarkable musical discipline and cohesion, particularly given the complexity of the work.
The chorus, featuring singers from across the school community, provided a strong foundation. Notably, the production showcased an extensive slate of student soloists. Evangelist roles were performed with clarity and expressive control by Ben Pilkington and Oscar Ford, while Alex Pop offered a resonant portrayal of Jesus. Additional solo contributions came from Alex Thow, Milo Hyde, Daniel Bristow, Adrian Groenwald, Ralph Moggs, Deshan Pethiyagoda, Orlando Meadowcroft and Leo Whitehead, with supporting roles from Marcus White, Thomas Jacob and Theo Patel.
The performance reflected the impressive musical journey taking place within the school, with experienced Sixth Form musicians performing confidently alongside younger students who are rapidly developing in skill and confidence. Together, the two end-of-term events provided a powerful reminder of the thriving culture of music that continues to grow year on year.