Page 19 - The Malvernian - July 2022

THE MALVERNIAN
However, the culmination of the year’s Music programme was the Concerto Concert on the final evening of term. After an absence of 3 years, it was wonderful to have an audience for what is, without doubt, one of the highlights of Malvern College's musical year. Having the opportunity to perform a piece with an orchestra is a rare one and I know that our performers will be cherishing this experience for a very long time to come. Big School was the venue for this exceptional concert, given by our most experienced and advanced pupils, performing as soloists accompanied by a professional orchestra with many beautiful and virtuosic performances from Vivaldi to Wallin via Mozart, Neruda, Richard Strauss, Dvorak, Vaughan Williams, Rutter and Les Miserables! It was absolutely first-rate - without doubt the most uniformly high standard of performance in my time here - and each and every performer should be immensely proud. The standing ovation at the end - as all performers returned for a final bow - said it all. It was a very special and moving evening.
As we return back to a sense of normality again after 2 very bleak years for the Performing Arts, we have been enormously fortunate to have had the musical leadership of an exceptional Upper Sixth and I, as the Director of Music, would particularly like to thank them
for what has been an outstanding and unprecedented contribution to the Music of Malvern College in their time here, and have played no small part to the start of the re-building that has begun here following Covid’s decimation of the Performing Arts. They have, quite simply, been outstanding musical ambassadors and we will miss them enormously.
In thanking them, I would also like to thank all the pupils who supported the Music programme this year – from those who came to enjoy one of the many concerts, those who have pursued their musical interests through being part of an ensemble or choir, having instrumental or vocal lessons and, of course, to all who have performed – no mean achievement given that, because of the pandemic, we have fallen out of the habit of performing. They are all to be commended.
Finally, I must express my appreciation and admiration of all my colleagues in the Music Department – both Visiting Music Teachers and the core team, all of whom have been an amazing support to all our musicians in the College and to me throughout the year.
THE MALVERNIAN
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Music Makers
Music Makers
Jonathan Brown | Director of Music
Song Writing
Unplugged