Winter Concert at St John’s Smith Square

On Friday, 19^th November, our musicians from both the Prep and Senior Schools returned to perform the Winter Concert at the iconic St John’s Smith Square in London.

Following on from a previous concert in November 2019, there was a palpable sense of excitement as pupils and staff arrived in London.

With a programme including works for String orchestra, a solo concerto for violin, orchestral music alongside the Fauré Requiem, this was a varied musical occasion which was enjoyed by both staff, pupils and parents alike.

The String Ensemble, conducted by Mr Giacomo Pozzuto opened the concert with Arensky’s Variations on a Theme by Tchaikovsky before Louis E-M took to the stage to perform two movements from Bruch’s iconic Violin Concerto No. 1. The technical capacity and musical nuance evident in this work was conveyed wonderfully as he was joined by both pupils and staff in a hugely musically astute and sensitive performance.

The first half closed with the Symphony Orchestra performing Holst’s energetic Walt Whitman Overture, bringing the first half to a rousing close.

The second half was dedicated to Fauré’s sublime and moving Requiem setting with beautiful solo singing from Ewan T and Nathaniel B. With a musical journey encompassing numerous emotional states, the large choir of 100 voices sang with poise, character and musical understanding with the ethereal quality of the final movement proving a moving end to such a wonderful concert.

A logistical feat in itself to take the pupils and staff to London, this concert will live long in the memory for those who attended or performed and we look forward to performing at St John’s Smith Square in the future.