Two works from the Symphony Orchestra followed. Ho-Tin Loke (Year 13) gave a brilliant performance of the first movement from Grieg’s famous Piano Concerto which received a standing ovation from the audience. The concert concluded with the Finale from Brahms’ Symphony No.1 in C minor, which the orchestra – led by Tom Hornby (Year 13) and conducted by Richard Mayo – played with considerable verve. BIG BAND AT CHRISTMAS HENRY ROSSELL (YEAR 12) Sparkling tinsel. The sweet scent of roast chestnuts. Soft snaps of Christmas crackers. The Christison Hall is a wondrous sight in the festive season, and never more so than when the DC Big Band and Jazz Group are back for their annual gig at the Christmas lunch. Led by Mr Eno, the Big Band began by belting out both ‘Big Band Christmas 1’ and the ever more popular ‘Big Band Christmas 2’ to the younger students from the Junior School. To the players’ surprise (and perhaps delight), the full Junior School cohort immediately assembled into a conga line which snaked around the entire Christison Hall – perhaps the holy grail of compli- ments for a musician. To provide contrast to the punchy trombone solos from music prefect Tom Hornby (Year 13) and Bertie Poullis (Year 12), and the soulful strumming of guitarist Owen Chan OA, the Jazz Group chose softer charts to soothe the crowds. Both saxophonists Bruno Lykiardopoulos (Year 12) and Ollie Dittmer (Year 12) played well-crafted solos over changes for ‘Good King Wenceslas’, ‘We Three
The Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Lesley Larkum, performed the first movement of Marcello’s Oboe Concerto with Tom Barnett (Year 13) playing the solo oboe with sensitivity and a real sense of the Baroque style. The Chamber Orchestra then gave an enchanting performance of the first movement of Dvořák’s Serenade for Strings. The Symphonic Wind Band, conducted by Robin Smith, completed the first half of the concert with a highly effective performance of Guy Woolfenden’s superb Gallimaufry . The second half of the programme began with the Year 7 Concert Choir performing three famous American songs: ‘Nice ‘n’ Easy’, ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo’ and ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’. For the first time in the concert’s history, the Con- cert Choir was accompanied by the College’s Big Band, which was conducted by Caitlin Kelly, and the perfor- mance of these three classic songs came with considera- ble energy and enthusiasm.
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