Inspirational Encounters

In May, over 50 young people joined us for a free workshop with Onyx Brass, kindly supported by B&S and Courtois Instruments. Celebrating their 30th anniversary in 2023, Onyx Brass continue to be a leading light in the brass world. culminated with Onyx Brass performing an evening concert, which included the day’s participants.

Head of Brass Ross Brown said, “It was wonderful to see and hear so many young Brass players in one place!

Their entertaining three-hour workshop gave everyone in attendance the opportunity to play side-by-side with the professionals. This was followed by a free pre-concert event in the John Baxter Foyer featuring Wells Brass Ensembles including Trumpet Choir, Horn Ensemble, Dectet and Brass Soloists, before the day "A special thanks to Wells pupils who mentored some of the younger visiting pupils. It is an absolute joy to see music making bringing young people together. I am so grateful to our friends at B&S and Courtois instruments for enabling us to bring these experiences free of charge to the wider community.”

In March, our Jazz Orchestra performed at Strode Theatre with trumpet player and bandleader Mark Armstrong. Mark is Artistic Director of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), Head of Jazz at the Royal College of Music and a regular with the Ronnie Scotts Jazz Orchestra.

The band played a selection of big band originals and arrangements by Mark. We are looking forward to welcoming him to Cedars Hall with the NYJO next year. Well done to our Jazz Orchestra!

Early in 2022, our Musicians performed brilliantly in the Cathedral for three Promenade Concerts focusing in turn on Brass and Percussion, Woodwind and Strings, and Early Music. The repertoire for these much-loved annual events included beautiful works by Bridge, Debussy, Dvorak, Byrd, Bach and Handel.

The Brass and Percussion Promenade was dedicated to Paul Denegri as a celebration of his thirty years service to the School. We were delighted that Paul was able to join us for the concert.

In March, Wells Cathedral School and The Blue School presented a joint rock and pop concert at Cedars Hall for Philip Welch, The Mayor of Wells.

Both schools presented a rich variety of popular music with original music, cover songs, singer/songwriters and full bands. The evening culminated with a lively collaborative version of Status Quo’s ‘Rockin’ all over the World‘ with every young musician taking to the stage. Pupils from both schools had a wonderful time listening to and learning from each other.

The School’s Concert for Ukraine was a big success, thanks to our brilliant musicians. Dawid Kasprzak (Year 11) gave a powerful introduction in which he quoted from the Ukrainian National Anthem and shared his own family’s efforts in Poland to help the refugees. The programme included A Fanfare for Ukraine 2022 (composed by Torbjorn Hultmark in response to the conflict), Nocturne by Kiev-born Reinhold Glière, and other pieces dedicated to peace. We’d like to thank everyone who attended and donated so generously to the humanitarian aid in Ukraine.