Symphonic Serenade lights up Blake Theatre

May 15, 2018

A beautiful Symphonic Serenade, with music ranging from Song of the Seashore to the Star Wars Saga, brought the curtain down on the year for the senior wind ensembles at Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools.

The evening, at the Blake Theatre on Tuesday 8th May, was hugely entertaining and showcased the very talented wind, jazz and brass bands at Monmouth School for Boys and Monmouth School for Girls.

Musical Directors Mr John Griffiths, Mr Alun Hathaway and Miss Sarah Fowler put together a programme which sparkled throughout.

Under the direction of Mr Griffiths, the Brass Ensemble opened proceedings with Richards’ Barnard Castle, followed by Song of the Seashore (Trad, arr. Fernie) and New York, New York (Kander, arr. Tuor).

The Percussion Ensemble, under the baton of Mr Hathaway, played the much-loved Soul Limbo (Booker, arr. Hathaway) before shining with Zimmer’s Pirates of the Caribbean (arr. Hathaway) and Kaiser Chiefs’ block-buster anthem, I Predict a Riot (arr. Hathaway).

Mr Hathaway also directed the vibrant Monmouth Jazz Orchestra (MOJO) set consisting of Dancing Men (La Barbera, arr. Lavender), Green Onions (Booker, arr. Holmes), Bari Bari (Clark), Basic Basie (Edmondson) and Big Mama Cass (Sebesky).

Under the direction of Miss Fowler and, with band leaders Owen, Dominic and Maki, the Symphonic Winds provided a perfect conclusion to a lovely evening of music-making.

Opening with Morricone’s Moment for Morricone (arr. De Meij), the Symphonic Winds played A Disney Spectacular (arr. Moss), Williams’ Star Wars Saga (arr. Bulla) and Music for a Darkened Theatre (Elfman, arr. Brown) before rounding off the night with The Blues Brothers Revue (arrv. Bocook).

The concert was also a fitting send-off for Owen, Dominic, Maki, Adrian, Agassiz, William, Rosie, Temi, Viktor and Kyle who are leaving the school this summer.

 

 

View all the photos on Flickr