MUSIC AT SEVENOAKS ORCHESTRAL CONCERT
In the Michaelmas term, the Pamoja Hall came alive with an evening of exceptional ensemble performances.
The flagship event of the term for all things orchestral, this concert featured performances by the Foundation Orchestra, Wind Band, Symphony Orchestra, Senior Strings and Sevenoaks Strings. In a fabulous return to form, we opened with the Mighty Orchestra, a grand ensemble of 165 students who filled the Pamoja stage and balcony, leading us into the evening with a rendition of The Avengers theme tune. This was a triumph for the Mighty Orchestra, whose last performance was an interpretation of‘ Funiculì, Funiculà’ in December 2017.
The Foundation Orchestra followed, with a medley directed and arranged by Mr Palmer.‘ Movie Night 2’ was a follow-up to his first arrangement in 2022, touching on famous themes such as Mission Impossible,‘ Flying Theme’ from E. T.,‘ Duel of the Fates’ from Star Wars, and many more.
While there is much to say about every performance of the evening, I can’ t write about this concert without mentioning the Wind Band’ s lively rendition of‘ El Cumbanchero’, a Latin American piece with an extensive percussive section. It was preceded by‘ Foundry’ by John Mackey, featuring‘ found percussion’, and followed by‘ Reverberations’ by Brian Balmages. These were two great performances, very well executed, yet as a performer, I found it extremely enjoyable to be part of such an energetic burst of music as‘ El Cumbanchero’; it was easily my favourite piece of the evening.
Sevenoaks Strings then brought us‘ Elegiac Melodies’ by Edvard Grieg and Divertimento for String Orchestra by Gareth Walters, which was followed by Upper Sixth student Joseph Charkin’ s composition,‘ Andante’, played by a makeshift strings group as part of his IB Music course. With little experience playing as a group, these musicians gave a fabulous performance, showing that hard work and dedication can pull together a new piece of music in a short time.
Conducted by Mr Harvey, the Symphony Orchestra then followed with a rendition of Edward Elgar’ s timeless Enigma Variations and an energetic medley from the film Gladiator. The Elgar took centre stage, culminating in the poignant‘ Nimrod’ variation. The mood shifted dramatically as the orchestra launched into the Gladiator medley, with the brass section erupting vigorously, transporting listeners to the epic landscapes and intense drama of the film.
Overall, this concert was a fabulous demonstration of the hard work and dedication of Sevenoaks students and teachers alike, pulling off a diverse programme filled to the brim with talent.
Antonia Mulley, Lower Sixth
52 MUSIC REVIEW