Music at Lunchtime – Friday 2nd May 2025

Last Friday’s sunny Music at Lunchtime brought us an equally sunny selection of tunes; from soulful pop to classic American folk, there was truly something for everyone to enjoy. The concert opened with a delicate piano piece, To a Wild Rose by Edward MacDowell, beautifully performed by Violet D from 8CC. The audience sat in complete silence — you could have heard a pin drop in the AC — as no one wanted to disturb the serene and graceful soundscape Violet created with her expressive playing.

Next came a striking contrast: Are You Gonna Go My Way? by Lenny Kravitz. This upbeat, high-energy number featured Edie C from 8VS on drums. Impressively, this marked the first solo drum performance in Music at Lunchtime this year (and perhaps ever!). Edie absolutely smashed it — both figuratively and literally — delivering a bold, exciting performance that electrified the room and showed off her talent with flair.

Following this, we shifted to the world of pop ballads with Stay by Rihanna. Renata R-A accompanied Serrana B (both from 10MG) on piano, while Serrana — known for her powerhouse vocals that we last heard during Goodwin House’s performance of Amazing Grace — gave another stunning, emotional rendition. Renata displayed great musical sensitivity, perfectly matching Serrana’s dynamics and emotional delivery to create a captivating duet.

To close the concert, Millie W and Eliana H from 9EHi and 9GHa performed Bring Me a Little Water, Sylvie, an American folk song. Their a cappella rendition, complete with snaps, claps, and stomps, celebrated the timeless spirit of the melody. Their two-part harmony was beautifully tuned, making for a flawless, memorable finale.

Reviewed by Eve C