Page 5 - Abberley Adventures - April 2022

ABBERLEY ADVENTURES
5
Music
The second half of term was as busy as the first with a number of Performing Arts Showcases, music exams and the usual busyness of choir rehearsals, music-lessons, instrumental exams, Chapel services and, of course, our wonderful musical production, Matilda. We also continue to love our new Music School, in Yates House!
On Thursday 10th March the pupils joined with OA’s, parents, staff and members of the Malvern College Chamber Choir and Worcester Festival Chorus for the Martin Schellenberg Memorial Concert – in memory of our former Director of Music, Martin Schellenberg. Our Junior and Chapel Choirs performed two pieces each in the first half of the concert alongside performances from the Malvern College Chamber Choir and soloists from Abberley Hall - past and present. The children all performed with confidence and evident enjoyment. The second half was dedicated to the wonderful Requiem by Gabriel Faure and singing this was the newly formed combined choir of 100+ singers all joining together to share in both their mutual love of singing as well as to give thanks and show respect for Martin’s life and especially for his work at Abberley Hall. This stunning performance featured delicate moments of choral ensemble singing as well as the soaring, loud voices of a large choir, showing their incredible talent, and not forgetting the most wonderful 4 bars of organ music ever written!! The Cathedral was packed with an audience of over 700 enjoying a spectacular evening of music and poetry. Our sincere thanks go to everyone who helped to make this such a wonderful and special occasion.
Music Exams
Congratulations to the following children who passed their music exams this term:
Arthur Dunham – Grade 1 Singing – Distinction Eleni Evriviades – Grade 3 Oboe – Pass
Freya Hawthorne – Grade 1 Singing – Pass
Freya Hurst – Grade 3 Performance Singing – Pass Georgio Necchi-Ghiri – Grade 2 Piano – Pass
Drama and LAMDA
This half of term we received the results from this years’ LAMDA examinations which took place at the end of January. We are delighted to report that we achieved 38 distinctions and 18 merits, with 25% of candidates taking their first ever LAMDA exam. Having worked so hard independently and on solo pieces in January, this half of term, children enjoyed working on and performing group poems and acting pieces as well as developing improvisation skills during their lessons.
The main event for the Drama department this term was undoubtedly the senior production, Matilda, but it hasn’t all been about the Years 7 & 8. There is much excitement lower down the school as casting has already taken place for both the Palace play; ‘Pirates Versus Mermaids’ and the Year 5 & 6 play; ‘Treachery at Traitors Quay’. All pupils should have taken their scripts home for the Easter holidays so they have the opportunity to make a start learning their lines. The Palace play will be performed on Thursday 26th May, just before Half Term, and ‘Treachery at Traitor’s Quay’ will be on 17th June, just before Exeat. We will be in touch towards the end of these holidays with requests for help with your child’s costume!