2024 – 2025 Highlights: Music

This year has been quite momentous for the Music School. There have been many wonderful performances, incredible achievements, and stunning examination results.

Major Concert Reviews – 2024-2025

Year 11 Concert Tuesday 1st October 2024

On 1st October, we had our first formal concert of the academic year in the Arundel Centre. The concert actually formed part of the Y11 GCSE Music group’s performance examination, with each candidate playing a solo piece on their main instrument. With a ‘bumper crop’ of 28 students, this was promising to be a special event indeed!

It certainly got off to a superb start with the flawless and mesmerising performance of Handel’s ‘Where’er You Walk’, sung by Bela R, followed by two more Baroque pieces — Telemann’s ‘Vivace’ played on the violin by Alexa L-B, and Scarlatti’s Sonata in A played on the piano by Amber J. Then followed a beautiful rendition of the famous slow movement of Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto, played flawlessly by Anna R-B. A well-known Chopin Nocturne came next, played with real expression by Bella A. The witty Dvořák ‘Humoresque’ was then played on the violin by Jessica L, with a touching performance of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Douce Rêverie’ played on the piano by Emily G.

Staying with the piano, Tabitha W played ‘Calm du Soir’ by Moszkowski, and then Kira S played the mesmerising ‘Granada’ from Albéniz’s Spanish Suite. Squire’s ‘Danse Rustique’ was rattled off superbly on the cello by Flora G and contrasted completely with Bella K’s soothing vocal performance of Vaughan Williams’ ‘Silent Noon’. ‘Summertime’ was beautifully played on the trombone by Eleanor R, followed by that classic song ‘Dream a Little Dream of Me’, sung by Beatrice McN.

Staying with the jazz idiom, Tal M played a delightful arrangement of ‘My Funny Valentine’ on the piano. Then two engaging miniatures by Hartmann were played with real poise on the piano by Yutao W. Now that the chronological programme had firmly reached into the twentieth century, the rest of our performers bar one were all singers. Juliet B sang the gorgeous ‘Cry Me a River’ classic, followed by another timeless classic from West Side Story — ‘Tonight’, sung by Winnie D. Emily S then gave a lovely rendition of ‘Love Look Away’, and Amara P gave a hypnotic performance of ‘Losing My Mind’.

We were reminded of last year’s production by Delilah B’s stylistic performance of ‘All That Jazz’, and then a classic song from Grease — ‘There Are Worse Things I Could Do’ sung by Ellie W. The ABBA song ‘Slipping Through My Fingers’ was then sung convincingly by Estelle B, with Chloe L following with ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ from Les Misérables. Nadia Z’s ‘How Could I Ever Know’ from Secret Garden was haunting and beautiful. Allegra L then really spiced things up with a stunning performance of Radiohead’s ‘Just’ on the electric guitar.

Then two songs from Waitress: firstly, Stevie B with a mesmerising performance of ‘When He Sees Me’, and then a heartrending rendition of ‘She Used to Be Mine’ by Martha R. Maya C closed the evening with Hamilton’s ‘That Would Be Enough’.

A really stunning set of performances from a very talented group of musicians. The very appreciative audience of parents, friends and siblings gave rapturous applause as all participants gathered on the stage at the end for a final bow.

Autumn Concert Thursday 14th November 2024 – St Joseph’s Church

On 14th November, some 220 students from all year groups performed at St Joseph’s Church for our annual Autumn Concert. What a feast of music and talent the night proved to be!

Miss Zanardo kicked the show off with the huge Concert Orchestra playing a fabulous selection of numbers from Lloyd-Webber’s Phantom of the Opera. This ensemble has reached a real zenith with this performance—one that Miss Zanardo, who has built this ensemble up from just 10 players when she arrived in 2010 to the 60-strong ensemble we saw last Thursday, can be rightly proud of!

The Conabor Choir then entertained with a humorous piece entitled ‘The Broomsticks Flew All Around!’. Mr Dodds’ impressive Brass Ensemble then gave a delightful performance of ‘A Whole New World’ from the musical Aladdin.

It was then the turn of Miss Zanardo’s inimitable ‘Brunner Show Choir’, starting with the ethereal and beautiful ‘Shall We Dream’ by Aussie composer Mike Atherton, followed by the upbeat ‘Stitches’.

Choir number three then took the stage with the first of three pieces in our ‘sacred corner’. The Chamber Choir sang the Kyrie from Leavitt’s Petite Mass; a mellifluous and lyrical setting. The Senior Strings with saxophonist Kezia C and soloists Eve C, Teresa G, Anna G, and Juliet B then performed the exquisite and poignant setting of the Nunc Dimittis by Burgon. The Conabor Choir finished this little trio of pieces with a touching Agnus Dei set by Morris Grey.

Then it was the turn of the Senior Strings on their own, performing Finzi’s ‘Romance’—a beautiful rendition with the sound wafting around the amazing acoustic of St Joseph’s.

Following this was something ‘completely different’ (in those immortal words)—the 100-strong Cantemus Chorus sang ‘My Crazy Student Life’ by Pinkzebra, with lyrics that resonated with so many parents and students inside St Joseph’s that evening!

Chacapella then took to the ‘stage’ to sing ‘Royals’; full of energy and excitement, this was a superb performance from this group that is run by Sixth Form and who rehearse themselves.

The evening closed with two stunning performances from the Symphony Orchestra: firstly, the highly evocative ‘Vltava’, describing the river running through the Czech Republic, and finishing with the hugely energetic last movement of Haydn’s 104th Symphony—’The London’.

All of us in the Music School are immensely proud of the students’ achievements and superb performances at this concert.

Carol Concert December 2024

 

On Monday, 9th December, we were at St Michael’s Church for our annual Carol Concert, which this year was a very special event indeed. The theme of ‘The Word’ shone throughout, with the thought-provoking readings chosen by Mrs Wilkinson and ably read by the team of readers—students Esme E, Greta P, Emma L, Susie D, Anna R-B, Aimee R, and Eve J—selected by Ms Kanmwaa.

This theme was also reflected in the medieval writings set to music by Benjamin Britten in his Ceremony of Carols, which was performed in its entirety throughout the concert, accompanied by renowned harpist Sioned Williams, who left the church spellbound during her harp solo—Interlude.

With the Chamber Choir leading the combined choirs of Cantemus Chorus, Conabor Choir, and Brunner Show Choir, the beauty of Britten’s music was fully realised. Special mention must go to the Chamber Choir, who took the lion’s share of the work, starting with the haunting candle-lit processional of ‘Hodie’ and with solos from Bella K, Bela R, Evie M, Hannah D, Georgie G, Sophie D, Scarlett D, Eliza C, and Lauren S.

Many congratulations to Miss Jenny Bacon, our Head of Vocal Studies, for her superb training of the Chamber Choir and Cantemus Chorus.

It was also an emotional event for our Year 13s, being their last Carol Concert, but especially for Miss Leisha Zanardo as she led her fabulous Brunner Show Choir for the final time on Monday.

Year 10 GCSE Concert – Thursday 23rd January 2025, Arundel Centre

Thursday, 23rd January was the turn of our Year 10 GCSE Music students with their first formal concert of the academic year in the Arundel Centre. The concert included all but one of our Year 10 GCSE Music cohort, with each pupil performing a solo piece on their main instrument or voice, with the addition of an ensemble item too. There were 16 performances in total, and the concert was attended by a mixture of fellow pupils, parents, and staff.

Becky R started off the concert with a rousing and uber-confident vocal performance of ‘I Can Hear The Bells’ from the musical Hairspray, followed by Margot v P on the piano giving a hypnotic and flowing rendition of Einaudi’s ‘Gravity’. Then followed a convincing performance of the 1st movement of Rieding’s violin concerto in B minor, Op. 35 by Solara W, coupled with a sensitive and reflective vocal performance of ‘A Gaelic Blessing’ by Rutter, sung by Chileshe G.

Next, the ever-popular ‘Prelude in C’, BWV 846 by J.S. Bach was played flawlessly on the piano by Ella B, followed by a meticulous reading of Cimarosa’s ‘Sonata in G’, C.34, 1st movement, by Sabrina K. This was followed by a characterful and spirited performance of Rousse/Littorie’s ‘Fantaisie Valse’ given by Ari A, and Ane J rounded off the first half of the concert with an unaccompanied confident rendition of Martini’s ‘Gavotte’ on the violin.

Next, Nia H gave a personal account of Litten’s ‘Sad Ghost’ on the piano, followed by a thoughtful performance of Mascagni’s much-loved ‘Intermezzo’ from the opera Cavalleria Rusticana, played on the flute by Indy D. The ever-popular crooning number ‘Blue Moon’ by Rodgers & Hart came next, sung superbly by Susie D, contrasted by Darcy D’s dextrous and spirited cello performance of Goens’ ‘Tarantelle’, Op. 24.

What came next was a real treat by two of our Year 10 students, Serrana B on vocals and Renatta R A on the piano, who gave a rousing duet rendition of ‘Always Remember Us This Way’ from the hit movie A Star Is Born. This was followed by Georgina V on the recorder, who played superbly the ‘Mexican Hat Dance’ by Bullard.

The concert was rounded off by two final items. First, Imogen B gave a mature and articulate performance on the piano of two Scarlatti sonata movements—Adagio e cantabile from Sonata in A, K.208 and Allegro from Sonata in A, K.209—followed by Serrana’s emotionally charged and powerful vocal and guitar rendition of Alexander/Mabe’s ‘The Climb’.

We wish to congratulate all our Year 10 GCSE Music students who took part in this concert for their fabulous performances, especially as it was their first formal outing on stage as a group since the beginning of their course. A final thanks must also go to the dedicated music teachers who prepared our students for this concert, and to Mr Boxall, Mr Kokkinos, and Mr Wedmore for their piano accompaniment on some of the items.

Music Theatre Evening – Thursday 13th February 2025

Eight of our Music Theatre examination candidates gave performances on the Thursday before the Spring half term in the Arundel Centre. The evening started with a hit from Mamma Mia, ‘Honey Honey’, sung and acted superbly by Hattie H in Year 10, and then followed by Evie D from Year 7 singing ‘Castle on a Cloud’ from Les Misérables — a very delicate and moving performance.

Hettie F from Year 8 then followed with a delightful and well-characterised rendition of ‘Quiet’ from Matilda. There was then great athletic action from Manon D, also in Year 8, with her powerful performance of ‘Red Ryder Carbine Action BB Gun’ from A Christmas Story.

We then moved on to our Sixth Form candidates, all of whom are either taking Grade VIII or a Diploma in Music Theatre. Scarlett D gave a very poignant performance of ‘There are Worse Things I Could Do’ from Grease — sung with much pathos and good characterisation. Saskia C really captured the essence of that beautiful song from Jekyll and Hyde — ‘In His Eyes’, displaying great breath control and some powerful moments.

Georgie G performed ‘A Part of That’ from The Last Five Years, followed by ‘Adelaide’s Lament’ from Guys and Dolls. Both performances were very polished indeed, and acted superbly.

Finally, Ebie M also sang two songs: ‘Stars and the Moon’ from Songs for a New World and the iconic showstopper, ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade’ from Funny Girl. Evie was able to show off both her dramatic and vocal capabilities in two stunning performances.

We wish all our Music Theatre candidates, many of whom are in Years 11 and 13 and were unable to perform that night due to their mock examinations, all good wishes for their examinations taking place on the 6th and 7th of March next week.

A Level Music Recitals at St Michael’s – Saturday 8th March 6pm

Our five A Level music students had the wonderful opportunity to perform their recital programmes in full at St Michael’s ‘Saturdays at Six’ series of concerts on 8th March.

First to perform was Hannah D, who played two pieces on the piano: a sonata by Haydn, played with a great sense of style and accuracy, which contrasted beautifully with ‘New Kid’ by Chris Norton, a very upbeat and exciting jazz-style piece delivered with real flair. Hannah finished with the haunting song from The Last Five Years — ‘Still Hurting’ — capturing the mood beautifully in a moving rendition.

Natalia B then took to the stage with a violin recital that began with Stravinsky’s introduction to his Suite Italienne — a crisp and exciting start — followed by the ethereal and enigmatic ‘Pièce en forme de Habanera’ by Ravel. Natalia mesmerised with her complete control of the violin in this beautifully poised performance. Then the fireworks followed in a dazzling display of virtuosity with Brahms’ ‘Scherzo’.

Georgie G started her recital with the charming Prelude to Paul Reade’s Victorian Kitchen Garden Suite, played with immense detail and superb tonal quality. Next came another song from The Last Five Years — ‘A Part of That’ — sung with real feeling. Georgie finished with the well-known ‘Adelaide’s Lament’ from Guys and Dolls, giving an absolutely fabulous characterisation of this comic song — a real showstopper!

Eliza C also began her recital on the piano with a Spanish flavour in ‘Rumores de Caleta’ by Albéniz. Eliza encapsulated the essence of the piece beautifully in this well-controlled performance. She then gave two absolutely stunning performances of great showstoppers: ‘Gimme Gimme’ from Thoroughly Modern Millie and ‘When It All Falls Down’ from Chaplin. There were real shades of Roxie Hart in these performances, which wowed the audience.

Finally, Evie M gave her recital of four songs, starting with the powerful ‘At Last’ delivered superbly. Then came a complete contrast with the warm and heartfelt ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’ by the Carpenters, which led into a mesmerising performance of ‘Feeling Good’ — certainly, we all felt good after that! Evie’s final number looked back to last year’s production with a dazzling, sparkling, sensational rendition of ‘All That Jazz’.

While the audience was not huge, they were greatly appreciative, and our students received well-deserved rapturous applause. Our thanks go to Mr Paul Dean, Director of Music at St Michael’s, for inviting our students to perform and for making us feel so welcome.

Channing Chamber Music Evening – 13th March

Thursday, 13th March, heralded the return of Channing’s Chamber Music Evening, a wonderful showcase of the school’s smaller ensembles across all age groups.

We got off to a superb start with the solemn, ringing opening chords from Purcell’s Funeral Music for Queen Mary, played by the Brass and Drum Consort. The unified brass sound of the ensemble was very impressive, with the players performing with absolutely flawless tuning throughout.

Next, we turned to Saint-Saëns’ iconic French masterpiece The Swan, arranged for flute quartet and performed by the Intermediate Flute Ensemble. The dulcet tones of the flute group complemented the flowing melodic lines so well that I could almost imagine a swan gliding by somewhere across the Channel.

Moving back into the Baroque, we were treated to the first movement of Vivaldi’s concerto for violins, lute, and continuo, led by Catherine S as the guitar soloist. She ran rings around a difficult guitar part, and the whole ensemble played with lovely poise and clarity throughout.

We then skipped forward in time to hear the Senior Flute Ensemble’s performance of Peacherine Rag, played with stylish cheekiness and rhythmic precision. All the players had their moments, but the group communicated wonderfully throughout, especially in musical imitation and conversation.

Next came the smallest group of the evening, Purcell’s Sound the Trumpet for vocal duet. Bella K and Anna R-B sang with wonderful vocal agility and a clear appreciation of Purcell’s contrapuntal writing, and the joyous crescendo on each long “sound” filled the space gloriously.

Kezia C starred on clarinet in the third movement of Mozart’s Kegelstatt Trio alongside Yutao W and Elizabeth S, showcasing Mozart’s writing at its sweet and elegant best. The purity and variety of tone quality from all the instrumentalists here is not something you hear very often, and I, for one, would love to hear the whole trio in the future.

A performance of Martelli’s arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s Humoresque was the first of two string quartets. Particular praise must go to Sophie L, who played the cello part warmly and assuredly in an arrangement that placed the instrument front and centre. The ensemble played with real rhythmic bite in the Humoresque patterns while maintaining Tchaikovsky’s native Russian charm in a graceful performance of the classic.

Our second string quartet expressively played J. Long’s arrangement of Mancini’s Moon River. Here, the violin playing of Thea I and Yasmin L sounded remarkably like a vocal line, bringing out the wanderlust in Mancini’s writing.

Our night ended on a stunning high with the first movement of Mendelssohn’s String Octet in E-flat, one of the mainstays of the string chamber music repertoire. Elizabeth S was at her virtuosic best, leading the ensemble with Romantic energy and gusto in a fabulous performance of the work in all aspects. There was a notable transparency and lilt to all the contrasting lines, and communication and rhythmic ensemble was very impressive, especially in such a difficult work.

This concert, and the whole evening, demonstrated Channing’s musical talent at its very best — both in virtuosic brilliance and in the focus on teamwork and communication in everything they do.

Thank you very much for a lovely evening of truly top-quality music-making. BRAVI.

Choral and Orchestral Concert – Thursday 20th March – St Joseph’s Church

On 20th March we had our second visit of the year to St Joseph’s Church for our annual Choral and Orchestral Concert. This year it was the turn of our Channing Community Choir—which included parents, friends, siblings, and staff—to sing alongside the Cantemus Chorus and Conabor Choir in a performance of Fauré’s Requiem, accompanied by our own Symphony Orchestra.

The concert began with an electrifying and arresting brass fanfare by Malcolm Arnold, led by our Head of Wind Studies, Mr Patrick Dodds, before we relaxed into Bruch’s Romance for String Orchestra and Solo Viola, directed by our Head of Strings, Mrs Laura Dodds. Our viola soloist, Zoe Q (Y13), played with real expression throughout, accompanied sensitively by the Senior Strings.

The Symphony Orchestra then took to the stage for Massenet’s Meditation from his opera Thaïs, featuring violin soloist Natalia B (Y13). This very famous piece of luscious romanticism left the audience spellbound with its gorgeous sweeping melodies, played by Natalia with musical poise and delicacy.

Next, the Symphony Orchestra performed the first movement of Brahms’ 4th Symphony. This “tragic” symphony, with its weeping melodic opening and fanfare-like second theme, was a seriously ambitious piece for the orchestra to tackle, but they rose to the challenge and gave a magnificent performance of this iconic Brahms work.

We then had a short interval while the stage was reset and our choirs assembled to sing Fauré’s Requiem. This sublime and intimate work received a deeply moving performance, from the lyrical Kyrie to the mysterious Offertoire, featuring a lovely semichorus from the Chamber Choir (coached by our Head of Vocal Studies, Miss Jenny Bacon) singing the Hostias section. The ethereal Sanctus followed, with harp accompaniment, leading to the glorious Hosanna fireworks. Evie M gave a stylish and exquisite rendition of the famous Pie Jesu.

The Community Choir’s performance of the Agnus Dei was beautiful and a prelude to the uplifting Libera Me, also featuring a semichorus from the Chamber Choir. Excitement returned in the central section with the highly passionate Dies irae before a triumphal return of the opening melody, giving a true sense of freedom. The paradisical final movement, In Paradisum, was sublime.

To finish, our singers and instrumentalists gave an electrifying performance of several songs from Les Misérables, culminating in a stunning climax in the final bars and bringing an end to a wonderful evening of music-making.

Our thanks go to so many members of the music team who worked so hard to produce a memorable event for our students, parents, and friends.

Channing Jazz Evening – 2nd April 2025

 

On the last night of the Spring Term, we held the 17th annual Jazz Evening, led by our fabulous jazz musician in residence, Mr Theo Travis. He was joined by our own Mr Alan Brown on drums, Ms Andrea Vicary on piano, and Mr Alex Keen on bass.

The quartet opened the evening with a well-known jazz standard, followed by a series of superb vocal solos from Juliet B, Hannah D, Eve C, Teresa G, Anna G, Georgie G, and Evie M. Chacapella also performed their excellent arrangement of Feeling Good.

A saxophone duo of Natalia B and Cristina C sparkled with their rendition of Sweet Georgia Brown, and Mr Dodds’ Brass Ensemble gave a beautiful performance of the well-known Can’t Take My Eyes Off You. Kezia C absolutely shone on saxophone in Armando’s Rhumba.

The final act was the school Jazz Band, led by Mr Travis, playing a set that closed with Duke Ellington’s iconic Caravan.

The whole night was a brilliant showcase of our talented jazz musicians, inspired by playing alongside our four jazz pros. What a night!

Sixth Form Concert – Wednesday 30th April

Wednesday 30th April was a special evening for our music department in the annual Sixth Form Concert. It was a chance for our tremendously talented sixth form students to perform, and marked our Year 13s’ final concert as Channing students. It’s fair to say they rose to—and surpassed—the occasion.

We started with Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Impromptu in B minor, played with gusto by Mei-Xing L. Her control over the long romantic phrases was impressive, bringing a lush tone out of the AC piano, starting the evening beautifully.

Next we heard a personal favourite: If I Loved You from Carousel, sung by Eve C, who exemplified a theme across the evening of characterful and expressive singing and playing. Eve showcased a lovely warm tone throughout the ballad, with especially well-controlled dynamic contrast.

Maya H-B’s performance of J Smith’s Don’t Watch Me Cry was a tearjerker, as she sang with deep feeling and showed off her vocal agility in wonderful riffs.

Elizabeth S broke the spell with a fiery performance of Paganini’s Caprice No. 24, where her dazzling technique was on full display. Her negotiation of string crossings and right-hand pizzicato passages was spectacular and a reminder she is truly going places.

After a brief lesson on tuning from Mr Boxall, Kezia C highlighted a relatively unknown composer, Fernande Decruck, playing the first movement of her Sonata in C sharp minor with stunning virtuosity. She brought out a variety of colours throughout the piece and played the flourishes with effortless ease.

Moving to a more well-known composer, Catrin Cox’s performance of the first movement of Vivaldi’s Gardellino Concerto featured a buoyant and light flute sound—especially in her ornamentation—which captured the Baroque style perfectly.

Zoe Q’s performance of Chopin’s Ballade in G minor was awe-inspiring and deeply moving. Her playing featured beautifully expressive rubato and fantastic power in the climaxes, delivered with emotional commitment that radiated from the stage.

Next came the first duet, performed by Georgie G and Beatrix D, with Serenity for clarinet duet. The piece showcased their beautiful tone and wonderful musical dialogue, a joy to listen to.

Simran T’s performance of Remembrances from Schindler’s List was another deeply moving moment, particularly in the unaccompanied statement of the main theme, where her vibrato and tone quality were on full display.

Evie M reprised Hallelujah from her Year 7 performance—an exemplary demonstration of how simplicity in music can yield its most poignant moments. Every word seemed thoughtfully chosen, including musical terms like ‘minor’ and ‘major,’ all sung with a velvet-smooth tone or a stunning high belt that filled the theatre.

Scarlett D’s rendition of Slipping Through My Fingers was profoundly affecting, full of melancholy and goodbye, taking ABBA’s lyrics and music to a new emotional level.

With a much-needed injection of humour, Georgie G’s performance of Adelaide’s Lament from Guys and Dolls highlighted the character’s charm and situation, through crystal-clear diction and subtle, effective character choices.

Beatrix D and Lauren S gave the first of several vocal duets, performing City of Stars from La La Land. Their mellow harmony was beautifully sung, vividly portraying two characters yearning for success.

Hannah D sang Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Breathe with soaring emotion, a rollercoaster performance that showcased her wide vocal range, piercing high belt, and strong character work, bringing Nina to life on stage.

Eliza C’s Gimme Gimme was a masterclass in pacing and storytelling through song, with jazzy bounce and energy, delivering a showstopping finish.

Natalia B gave the final instrumental performance with César Franck’s Sonata in A minor, a masterpiece of the violin repertoire. She played with consistent, sweet tone—especially on the E string—encapsulating the silky, mysterious French quality of the piece, with deeply soulful phrasing that was a joy to hear.

Our final two vocal duets brought Year 13 singers together for For Good and It Takes Two, evoking tears as they captured the journeys of all our Sixth Formers and the bright futures that lie ahead.

Every performance was filled with inspiring passion and joy in music-making. On behalf of the music department, it has been an honour to teach such a talented and hardworking group. The standard of music making in this cohort is nothing short of exceptional, and this concert will be remembered for a long time. BRAVA.

Peter Boxall
Director of Music