Spring Term 2023
Spring Term 2023 (1) - News
Spring Term 2023 (2) - News
An action packed second half of Spring Term!
House Music - Wednesday 1 March
Congratulations to Whitcombe and Summers for their triumph in House Music this year. In what was the closest fought competition for many years our adjudicator, Dr Adrian Hull, Head of the Faculty of Creative Media at Portsmouth University, commented on the quality, enthusiasm and ingenuity of each houses’ programme. Over 100 pupils were involved in this event in solo performances and ensembles (ranging from 4 musicians to 30 musicians) and the house spirit of supportive competition was palpable in the Cathedral.
Jazz Success in Chichester Music Festival - Saturday 4 March
Our pupil-run jazz octet, Pupils’ Collective, entered the Chichester Music Festival section and won the youth group section. They have been invited to perform in the Festival Concert in Chichester’s Minerva Theatre at the end of March. The adjudicator commented on the quality of ensemble playing and polish of the group. The band were invited to perform in the Festival Gala Concert and were awarded the trophy for most entertaining performance.
Spring Concert - Thursday 16 March
Our annual celebration of jazz and rock was a real showcase of the quality and sophistication of our young musicians in contemporary and improvised music. Our three small jazz groups from middle school, upper school and 6th form demonstrated real maturity in their ensemble playing and improvising, whilst Pupils’ Collective and the flagship ensemble, Big Band, blew the audience away with professional level playing. The evening also featured classy performances from the year 10/11 rock band and the 6th Form band (Autonomous State) as well as the Close Harmony group in a beautiful performance of Shaun Mendes' Stitches and trombone ensemble with their stylish and sophisticated blend and sound.
Chicago - 22-24 March
The cabaret-style production of Chicago in the DRT was a real show stopper with stunning dance routines and killer vocals from the lead singers and ensemble. This was all backed by a band made up almost entirely of pupils, who did an amazing job with the professional level band parts. Stunning solo and ensemble vocal performances from a really talented group of singers, dancers and actors meant this was a night to remember!
Teatime Concerts
During the Spring Term our smaller chamber ensembles and solo performers performed in our Teatime Concert series. This offers our musicians the chance to perform to family and friends in a relaxed and supportive environment.
Cathedral Choir - Handel’s Messiah - Saturday 25 March
The annual Passiontide performance of Handel’s Messiah by the cathedral choristers is always a highlight of the musical year. This year’s sell-out performance featured a superb array of former Portsmouth singers – Solomon Hayes, Ed Davey and James Lomas singing the alto, tenor and bass solos lines. The skilful Baroque orchestra was led by Julia, a founder member of Red Priest, the iconic instrumental ensemble which pioneers delivery of early music to new audiences with imagination and colour. Soprano and Treble solos came from amongst our the choristers. Sky, Daniel, Clara and Noah delighted us with expert and confident renditions of solo arias sung with poise, professionalism and panache. It is one thing as a cathedral chorister to sing in the relative comfort of the ranks of the choir and protective embrace of the choirstalls, but quite another to stand in front of a large audience, having to hold a tricky solo line against a set of unusual instruments rather than the organ, but the young musicians seemed to take it in their stride. Out of the 65 Cathedral Choir on the stage, 55 were under the age of 19 – what a wonderful opportunity for so many young people to experience one of the most iconic choral works ever written and to experience with orchestral instruments as Handel intended with the characteristic incisive string sound, the crisp ‘natural’ trumpets, edgy woodwind, and distinctive drums. These young people will hold this music in the fabric of their psyche for the rest of their lives.
Gala Concert - Wednesday 29 March
On the penultimate day of term our larger ensembles and vocal groups showcased their talent in our annual Gala Concert held at the Cathedral. Symphony Orchestra opened the concert with a magnificent performance of Percy Whitlock’s heroic march Dignity and Impudence followed by rousing performances of music by Malcolm Arnold and Adele from PGS Brass. Concertband continued the film theme with energetic performances of music from Aladdin and Harry Potter. The concert closed with Carl Orff’s iconic Carmina Burana performed by a combined chorus of 80 singers with two pianos and six percussionists featuring flamboyant solos from our fabulous singing teacher, Stefanie Kemball-Read and gap year choral scholar, Reuben Vasey-Saunders. Congratulations to the whole music team for such a glorious end to a really busy term!
Spring Term Music Exams
At the end of this busy term a number of pupils also took practical music examinations. Many congratulations to the following on their achievements:
ABRSM
Grade 1
Zoe y4 Horn Merit
Jasper y9 Jazz Piano Distinction
Grade 2 (online)
Thinukshan y9 Piano Pass
Grade 3
George y6 Cello Merit
Noah y8 Jazz Piano Distinction
Grade 4
Frederick y11 Trumpet Pass
Anna y9 Trumpet Pass
Daisy y9 Singing Merit
Harriet y10 Singing Merit
Grade 5
William y9 Piano Pass
Noah y8 Singing Distinction
Grade 6
Olivia y9 Piano Merit
ARSM Diploma
Narina y9 Piano Distinction
Trinity exam results to follow.