MUSIC
AUTUMN CONCERT SEASON SPLITS INTO FIVE
THE SEASON INVOLVES MORE THAN 500 BOYS
With the uncertainty surrounding restrictions to audience numbers , it was decided to split the Autumn Concert Season ( usually two concerts ) into five . The Autumn Season ( formerly known as the ‘ May Concert ’) features all 15 large ensembles and involves more than 500 boys .
The first concert took place in Term 1 , on 25 March . The Symphony Orchestra opened the concert with a beautiful performance of Glière ’ s Horn Concerto , performed superbly by Derek Phillips ( Year 12 ). This was followed by a new work , St Kilda , by Melbourne-based British composer , David Keefe , who attended the performance and was delighted ! The orchestra concluded with Ron Goodwin ’ s magnificent film music ,
633 Squadron . It has a notorious horn part , and our horn section acquitted themselves with aplomb !
Next , the Symphonic Wind , expertly conducted by David Musk , performed Fate of the Gods by Reineke . It was a beautifully crafted performance of a work full of colour and subtle contrast . COVID restrictions meant that the audience was not as large as we ’ d have liked ( or the boys deserved ), but it was the first live performance in more than a year .
The second concert of the Autumn Season , on 4 May , opened with the Intermediate Orchestra under Adam Merange playing Tchaikovsky ’ s Romeo and Juliet overture . The orchestra played with a huge sound . Anne Brisk led the Dreyfus
Band in a quirky and lively rendition of Murtha ’ s Epic Gaming Themes . A piano duet from William Cheah ( Year 7 ) and Matthew Scouller ( Year 8 ), playing Schubert ’ s Ave Maria followed , and Chris Farrands concluded the evening with the Stage Band performing works by Hefti , Taylor and Skiles .
Notable solos were performed by Charles Zhang ( Year 10 ) and Nathan Ou ( Year 9 ) on saxophones , Joshua Qin ( Year 10 ) on trombone , Puluna Vaea ( Year 10 ) and Owen Skewes ( Year 9 ) on trumpets , percussionist Rupert Simmons ( Year 11 ) and guitarist Thomas Cronin ( Year 12 ).
Just two days later , 6 May , was Autumn Concert No 3 , which opened with the Henri Touzeau Strings , conducted by Ben Castle
34 Great Scot Issue 163 – September 2021