Page 18 - The Malvernian - July 2022

THE MALVERNIAN
Music
The Summer term has been a very busy term indeed, with many performances and workshops punctuating our regular schedule of ensemble and choir rehearsals, and individual instrumental and vocal lessons.
Early in the term, Mr Hilgrove Kenrick came and gave a very informative and inspiring workshop on Film Music composing. The pupils took a lot away from the sessions and we are very grateful to Hilgrove for giving us his time and for sharing both his unique, musical experiences and his great creative insight - it was a really enlightening day for the pupils who learnt a great deal. Then, just before half-term, we had another workshop – this time on song writing, given by Mr Simon Leferink and Mr Joe Buck. Pupils were taught about the process of writing a song and began to create their own sketches as well as hear our workshop leaders perform their own music. Some of our musicians also had the chance to perform their own previously-written songs and both Simon and Joe were really impressed by them. Thanks to Mrs Gray and Mr McDade for putting these two events together.
In terms of performances, we have been treated to a wide-ranging and diverse series of concert programmes. The first performance of the term was the Unplugged, held on the Gryphon Room terrace in early May. The Unplugged series is always very popular and, as ever, the programme was really excellent with 13 items from across the whole College – all 5 year groups and 9 houses were represented - with solos, duets and some bands all performing songs to an exceptionally high standard with music from Led Zeppelin to Eminem and even a song written and performed by
Concerto Concert
a student - Jack Griffiths (No.7). With Prize Giving now having moved to the very end of term, there was the opportunity for another Unplugged performance before the ceremony, again on the Gryphon Room terrace whilst parents were gathering after the Gun Run. Again, the quality was extremely high and shows that the Unplugged programme is in fine fettle.
The Music Makers concert series has continued to produce some excellent performances. Throughout the year, we have been trying to offer an increasingly diverse repertoire and what has also been really good to see has been that we have had performers from all year groups and all houses. This has been most encouraging and bodes well for the future. In mid-May we were treated to a wide- ranging programme where the quality of performances was, once again, very high. For the second Music Makers, the Chapel played host to Music from JS Bach to Leona Lewis via the Classical and Romantic periods and Jazz – there really is something for everyone in our concerts!
Also, just before half-term, we were treated to an excellent Summer Serenade – traditionally a concert given by our most experienced Musicians in the Remove and FY. Again in the Chapel, and despite illness, injury and dental mishap, our younger musicians put on an excellent concert with a lovely diverse programme ranging from folk and Klezmer music to classical, Jazz and popular music, including the Junior Jazz Ensemble. There was real craft on show and gave us an insight into our musical future which looks very bright indeed.
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THE MALVERNIAN