The Music department has been buzzing with activity in the approach to Easter, with a packed calendar of concerts and performances for both senior and junior pupils.
The Spring Concert, the highlight of the spring calendar, rounded off the term. The event took place in St Margaret’s Church for the first time, and pupils, staff and Colfe’s families enjoyed an uplifting and varied repertoire in the splendour of the church interior.
Culminating in a splendid Senior Orchestra performance of Holst’s The Planets, Op.32 Jupiter, the programme featured a wide range of ensemble and musical genres, including the Early Morning Group, String Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Barbershop, Wind Band, Senior Choir and Chamber Singers.
Senior musicians in Year 13 had their final large scale performance for Colfe’s, including Oskar who played William Walton’s Concerto for Viola and Orchestra movement 1, Ludwig and Harrison who played a piano duet of Rachmaninoff’s Polka Italienne, and the Sixth Form String Quartet (Ari, Pelin, Oskar and Will) who performed a Beatles medley of Yesterday and Hey Jude.
Throughout the school, many other junior and senior school pupils have enjoyed plenty of concerts and performances.
Year 5 pupils presented a musical evening to parents, performing an ensemble of music inspired by composer Carl Orff, as well as poetry, solo performances and songs, and the premiere of the new Y5 Wind Band.
Children in Nursery, Reception and Year 1 similarly delighted audiences with a joyful Spring Show, full of springtime cheer with songs, poems, animal costumes and even maracas.
Pupils have been introduced to a world of musical opportunity with a curriculum offering instrumental schemes. For some, this may be learning a new instrument alongside those they already play while for others, this may be the first time learning an instrument, but all children have the chance to explore a wide variety of orchestral instruments covering strings, brass and woodwind, each taught by specialist instrumental teachers. The Year 4 pupils took part in the Bright Sparks Orchestra concert where the young musicians showcased their hard work with engaging repertoires including both ensemble and solo performances.
The final event of the term was the Year 7 Instrumental Scheme performance, which allowed pupils to demonstrate their newly acquired musicianship in the range of instruments in the scheme, including viola, cello, double bass, violin, cornet, trombone, clarinet, flute, oboe and bassoon.
Director of Music Tim Newberry said: “This year was the first time we have held the Spring Concert in the beautiful surrounding of St Margaret’s Church, which had wonderful acoustics that enhanced our repertoire perfectly. The Jupiter movement from Holst’s The Planets is known as the Bringer of Jollity, and the Senior Orchestra’s performance was fittingly exuberant and a wonderful way to usher in the Easter holiday. We are now looking forward to next term which begins with a performance from the Trinity Laban conservatoire, followed by the Pop and Jazz Concert which promises to be a treat.”
