More than 200 musicians gave a magical celebration of live music tonight in Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools’ Choral and Orchestral Concert at Wyastone.
Eleven-year-old Monty was among the soloists as the schools returned to the impressive venue near Monmouth, on Tuesday 29th March, for the first time since 2019.
Under the baton of Mr David Lawson, Berntein’s colourful Chichester Psalms, sung by a joint choir of 170 voices, including all Year 7 pupils at Monmouth School for Boys and Monmouth School for Girls, almost raised the roof.
Monty, Tabitha, Eleanor, Sam and Christopher delivered enchanting solos in the Bernstein.
A special mention must also go to Haydn, Huw and Daniel who, along with Monty, together sung a solo passage.
Senior Strings, under the baton of Mrs Ruth Friend, opened with Reger’s Liebestraum.
Under the direction of Miss Sarah Fowler, Symphonic Winds performed well-known selections from Chess and Hairspray.
The 70-piece Joint Symphony Orchestra, HMSSO, under the baton of Mr Derek Harris, presented an ambitious programme that included Mission: Impossible and Márquez’s Conga del Fuego Nuevo.
The final item of the evening, Chichester Psalms, was a fitting finale to a stunning celebration of music-making from Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools.
“For many years, it has been a feature of our Year 7 curriculum to spend part of their lesson time learning to sing choral work,” said Mr Lawson.
“The large and appreciative audience gave rapturous applause and definitely enjoyed their evening of live music.”