Music in the Lower School is flourishing and the strength and standard of the musicians at the Soloists' Concert was certainly testament to this fact. Organised by Mr Haythornthwaite and supported by an enthusiastic and encouraging team of peripatetic instrumental teachers, parents and families were treated to an evening of amazing talent.
More than sixty girls charmed and delighted the audience, which packed the Music School Hall to capacity. The variety of instruments was astounding and included the Indian veena, steel pans and a full drum kit. There was no shortage of strings, wind and piano and we were also treated to saxophone, trumpet and bassoon. There was even a five-strong harp ensemble! The talent and variety knew no bounds.
And there wasn't just quantity. The standard was exceptionally high. The chamber groups have all had considerable success recently in local competitions.
The breadth of the programme brought together such diverse elements as Eric Clapton, Vivaldi and Shostakovich with the penultimate item being Kreisler's Praeludium and Allegro performed with skill and understanding well beyond her 10 years, by Rania Kim.
At the end of the concert a retiring collection in aid of Musequality, this term's Canonaid project, raised over £160.