Autumn Concert – Thursday, 14th November 2024

Last Thursday, over 220 students from all year groups performed at St Joseph’s Church for our annual Autumn Concert. The evening was truly a feast of music and talent!

The event began with the spectacular Concert Orchestra, led by Miss Zanardo, delivering an incredible selection of pieces from Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera. This performance marked a high point for the ensemble, which Miss Zanardo has grown from just 10 players in 2010 to the impressive 60-strong group we saw last week—a remarkable achievement!

Next, the Conabor Choir delighted the audience with a humorous rendition of The Broomsticks Flew All Around! Mr. Dodds and his impressive Brass Ensemble followed with a delightful performance of A Whole New World from Aladdin.

Miss Zanardo’s Brunner Show Choir then took the stage, starting with the ethereal and beautiful Shall We Dream by Australian composer Mike Atherton, before moving on to the upbeat and energetic Stitches.

The first of three pieces in our “sacred corner” came next, performed by the Chamber Choir: the Kyrie from Leavitt’s Petite Mass. Their mellifluous and lyrical interpretation set the tone for the Senior Strings’ poignant rendition of Burgon’s Nunc Dimittis, featuring saxophonist Kezia C and soloists Eve C, Teresa G, Anna G, and Juliet B. The Conabor Choir completed the sacred trio with a touching performance of Agnus Dei by Morris Grey.

The Senior Strings returned to the spotlight with Finzi’s Romance, their sound beautifully enhanced by the remarkable acoustics of St Joseph’s Church.

Bringing a vibrant change of pace, the 100-strong Cantemus Chorus performed Pinkzebra’s My Crazy Student Life. The witty lyrics resonated with many parents and students alike, making for a memorable moment.

Chacapella then took the stage with an electrifying performance of Royals. Run entirely by Sixth Form students who rehearse independently, this group exuded energy and excitement.

The evening concluded with two outstanding performances from the Symphony Orchestra. First was the evocative Vltava, depicting the journey of the river through the Czech Republic, followed by the high-energy final movement of Haydn’s Symphony No. 104 (The London).

We in the Music School are immensely proud of the students’ achievements and their superb performances at this year’s Autumn Concert. If you weren’t able to join us, you can listen to the concert here: