Music Department News: September – October 2017

Solo Performances

Thanks go to the following musicians who performed at school assemblies and jaw. They have

entertained and enriched the pupils and staff of the school and are to be commended for their efforts:

Shanise Liang Piano I got rhythm Gershwin

Michael Rice Trumpet Concerto in E Flat Neruda

Cassius Kay Voice O del mio dolce ador Gluck

Ellie Evans Cello Andante Klengel

Imo Mayhook-Walker Voice and Piano Under my skin Original Song

Richie Sweet Marimba Black and White Rag Botsford

Annabel Bailey & Isabella Doyle Vocal duet Panis Angelicus Franck

Safia Kazim Voice Summertime Gershwin

Jamie Bland Baritone Horn Pavane Ravel

Isabelle Kennedy Voice Se tu m’ami Pergolesi

Lila Levingston & Minna Hall Voice and Guitar Malibu Miley Cyrus

Tiger Braun-White & Felix Howard

Vocal and two guitars Echo Beach Martha and the Muffins

Oliver Meredith Clarinet

Extract from Clarinet Concerto in A Major Mozart

Ellie Evans Cello Fantasiestück Schumman

Thanks also go to the following for their short concert on open day and the first music to be performed

in the renovated Lupton Hall:

Claude Barker Piano Adagio from Sonata in C Minor Schubert

Chilli Chilton Voice and Guitar No Shame Original Song

Jamie Bland Baritone Horn Pavane Ravel

Isabelle Kennedy Voice Se tu mami Pergolesi

We would like to recognise the accomplishments and commitments of our musicians beyond the

school. Congratulations go to Oliver Meredith (6.2) for gaining a place with the National Youth Jazz

Orchestra (NYJO) Big Band playing bass guitar and to Kai MacRae (Block 4) for gaining a place to play

drums with the (NYJO) Jazz Ensemble. They are exceptionally fine musicians who give so much to the

school and we wish them well with their jazz adventures! We would also like to congratulate Tiger

Braun-White (Block 3) and Jake Lacey (Block 4) for gaining places (respectively) at the Junior Academy

- Royal Academy of Music and at Junior Trinity - Trinity College of Music. They both attend classes

and get extra tuition on the cello on Saturday mornings which is a significant boost to their music

studies. We congratulate them both for gaining places at such a young age and thank them for their

excellent contribution to music at Bedales.

Merry Evening

Thursday 14 September saw the first big musical event of the year with “Merry Evening”, a night of original songs, pop covers, classical music and original poetry in the Quad. A wide range of great performances from budding Rock Stars in Block 3 to a turn by the new Director of Music no less (!).

Badley Festival

Sunday 24 September saw the 3rd annual Badley Community Festival, the focus of which was an amazing 6 hours of music performed by a huge number of our incredibly talented students. Huge Motown set pieces including “Dancing in the Street” performed by Chilli Chilton with full backing band and brass section were balanced with solo singer-songwriters including new students Isabella Montero and Imo Mayhook-Walker. There were incredible Jazz songs performed by Danna MacRae and Finn Davidson and exquisite solo classical performances given by the likes of Ellie Evans and Michael Rice. The highlight of the afternoon was a “Bedales Rock Show Revisited” section that saw some of the most popular songs from recent Rock Shows refreshed by among others Safi Kazim and Millie Bolton. A never to be forgotten African Drumming session led by the amazing Kristian Bediaako and some ‘songwriter’s showcases’ brought to a close a memorable day had by all.

Music Scholar Concert

On Wednesday 11 October, the Lupton Hall held its first

performance since the recent renovations. Music

scholars from Block 3 to the 6.1 gave exceptional

performances to a very supportive audience of friends,

teachers and parents. We were reminded of what a

lovely space the Lupton Hall is to perform in and how

the acoustic is very rewarding for performers and

audience alike.

The music scholars provided a wide variety of music

from music by Caccini who was instrumental in the

birth of opera in the early 1600’s to music by Bernstein

and Rogers and Hammerstein. It is very encouraging to

hear such confidence in our young performers so early

in the academic year, especially those pupils new to the

school and the Block 3 pupils. They all deserve praise

and the full programme is copied below.

A music exhibitioner concert will take place after the half term to give those

students a chance to perform solo works and the 6.2 musicians will perform

more substantial solo repertoire later in the academic year. We would very

much like to invite all members of the Bedales community to these events,

particularly parents of the performers, so please do check the school calendar

for updates as these ‘new’ events take shape.

Our sincere thanks to all who attended and supported the performers who

did themselves proud; A wonderful evening in a wonderful venue.

Three School’s Spooky String Symposium

On Thursday 12 October over 60 pupils from Dunannie, Dunhurst and Bedales gathered for a morning

of string music led by Ben Harlan. The beginners in Dunannie were thrilled to get a chance to play

alongside the many advanced pupils from Bedales and the music for the day had a distinct spooky

Holloween theme! Ben taught the youngsters various spooky string effects including how to use

glissando and col legno (using the wood of the bow) to create eerie effects. The theme from

Ghostbusters segued into extracts from Schubert’s Death and the Maiden and the players also sang…..

It was great to gather the combined talents of all three schools and to give the younger players a

chance to work with the older pupils and also to enjoy the recently refurbished Lupton Hall. A huge

thanks go to Ben Harlan for organising and leading such an inspirational day and for making it scarily

enjoyable!

Songwriter’s Showcase Assembly

On the evening of Monday 16 October the seventh “Annual Songwriters’ Showcase Assembly” took place and it certainly was a lucky seven for the audience who were treated to sensational original songs by 6th Form stars Chilli Chilton, Finn Davidson, Olly Meredith and Abi Morris, newcomers Imo Mayhook-Walker and Isabella Montero along with great songwriting debuts from Tash Hawley (duetting with Danna McRae) and Safi Kazim. All were ably assisted by their Bands including drummers Bart Hill-Reid and Kai MacRae, guitarist Minna Hall and fantastic keys men Michael Rice and Head Boy James Grout Smith. A wonderful performance of creative ingenuity by all involved.

Doug McIlwraith - Director of Music Neil Hornsby - Head of Contemporary Music

Music Scholar Concert

Wednesday 11 October 7.30pm

Lupton Hall

Adagio and Allegro from Viola Concerto in G Telemann

Maisy Redmayne (6.1) – Viola

Amarilli, mia bella Caccini

Mabel Watson (Block 3) – Voice

Salut d’amour Elgar

Lila Levingston (Block 3) – Violin

Caballero Jon Merle

Monty Bland (Block 3) – Double Bass

Misty Burke/Garner

Tobias Bonham- Carter (Block 3) – Trumpet

Il Jen-Michel Blais

Annabelle Snell (Block 3) – Piano

Sonata in C Telemann

Madeleine Upton (Block 4) - Recorder

On wings of Song Mendelssohn

Jamie Bland (Block 5) – Trombone

If I loved you from Carousel Rodgers and Hammerstein

Safia Kazim (Block 5) – Voice

Adagio from Sonata in C Minor Schubert

Claude Barker (Block 4) – Piano

Rondo for Lifey Bernstein

Jack Waddington (Block 4) – Trumpet

Danza, danza, fanciulla gentile Durante

Annabelle Bailey (Block 5) – Voice

O del mio dolce ador Gluck

Cassius Kay (6.1) – Voice

Finale from Sonata No 1 in B Flat Mendelssohn

Tiger Braun-White (Block 3) – Cello