West Road Concert Hall was filled with music, energy and applause as around 140 St John’s pupils took to the stage for the school’s annual Summer Concert, delivering an evening of exceptional performances across a remarkable range of musical genres.
Featuring pupils from T2 to Form 6, the concert highlighted the depth and diversity of music-making at St John’s, with ensembles and soloists performing works spanning classical masterpieces, jazz standards and contemporary favourites.
'Stupendous' and 'deeply affecting' are superlatives that fall a little short in describing our experience at last evening's concert. It would be difficult to enumerate here the many expressions, (both visible and felt), of the distinctive education we all witnessed last evening.
The ambitious programme included music by celebrated composers such as Vivaldi, Mozart, Rossini and Holst, alongside songs and arrangements inspired by artists including Adele, AC/DC, Toto and Louis Cole. Performances came from a wide variety of ensembles, including the Chamber Orchestra, Big Band, Massed Strings, Chamber Choirs and Rednotes Jazz Ensemble.
Playing to a full-house audience at the West Road Concert Hall, pupils displayed impressive confidence, commitment and musical skill throughout the evening. Forms 5 and 6 soloists captivated listeners with concerto performances by Mozart and Vivaldi, as well as works by Jacques Ibert and Mariano Mores. Vocal soloists also took centre stage, performing with the school’s bands to enthusiastic applause.
The talent, variety of performances and, most importantly, the evident enjoyment and enthusiasm of all the children taking part was wonderful to see.
A highlight of the evening was the performance by the St John’s Symphony Orchestra, comprising nearly 100 pupils aged between seven and 13. Bringing together musicians ranging from Grade 1 to post-Grade 8 standard, the orchestra demonstrated the breadth of talent nurtured within the school’s music programme.
The Mozart solo alongside Highway to Hell will stay with me for a very long time. A third of the school's pupils in the orchestra at the end is an astounding achievement.
Their closing set took the audience on a dramatic journey through space. The orchestra opened with Richard Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra before moving into James Horner’s Apollo 13. Following an energetic performance of Louis Cole’s Things Will Fall Apart, the concert reached its grand finale with Holst’s Jupiter from The Planets, bringing the evening to a thrilling conclusion.
The Summer Concert was a celebration not only of musical achievement but also of the dedication and hard work of pupils, staff and supporters. School leaders extended their congratulations to all performers and expressed thanks to the teachers, accompanists, technicians and audience members whose contributions helped make the event such a memorable success.
It never fails to amaze me how rich and diverse the musical education is at St John’s. Such a wide range of ages of performer too.
The evening served as a powerful reminder of the vibrant musical culture at St John’s and the outstanding opportunities available to young musicians across the school.
