PROGRAMME
CHAMBERORCHESTRA
EmilyHollanddirector
i. Vivace-soloistsLizzieWyer&JoshuaLai
ii. Largomanontanto-soloistsMayaMbogo&EvieHolder
iii. Allegro-soloistsElsaMarsh&NicolaChotrani
DoubleViolinConcertoinDminor JSBach (1685-1750)
This piece was written during a period when Bach was engaged by Prince Leopold to be Director of Music at his court in Germany. Inspired by his travels across Europe, Leopold invited many accomplished musicians to join the court, and being Calvinist, Bach wasnotrequiredtowriteliturgicalmusic,thereforefreeinguphistime to write some of his greatest instrumental music. The Double Concerto has become one of the most loved pieces he has ever written.
Thefirstmovementintroducesfugalwritingintoaconcertoform;the openingfugalmaterialisrepeatedthreetimesduringthemovement, with the later repetitions shortened, and in between these central pillarscomebrilliantepisodesforthetwosoloists,treatedsoequally thatbothplayersplayeachmelodicphrase.TheLargomanontanto, hasbeautifulsingingmelodieswiththeorchestraprovidingharmonic support.ThefinalAllegroisinconventionalconcertoform,buthere, as in so much of Bach’s writing, the accompanying orchestra has much of the excitement. The main theme appears twice in the first violins, whilst the soloists present more lyrical material, and the accompaniment also provides a series of short imitative phrases which are thrown rapidly between the various sections of the orchestra.Insistentunisonarpeggiosinalltheupperstringsmakethe two passages of double stopping from both soloists all the more exciting.
SYMPHONYORCHESTRA
JohnMountfordconductor
SymphonyNo.1inCMajor,Op.21 Beethoven i.AdagioMolto–Allegroconbrio (1770-1827)
Beethoven’sSymphonyNo.1,completedin1800,washisfirstmajor orchestral work and premiered in Vienna at a concert which he organised
organised himself. Though it shows the influence of his teacher Joseph Haydn and fellow composer Mozart, Beethoven’s unique voiceisalreadyclear especiallyintheplayfulsurprisesanddynamic energyofthisfirstmovement.Itbeginswithaslowintroductionfullof harmonicmisdirectionbeforelaunchingintoabright,spiritedAllegro. The movement brims with youthful confidence, rhythmic invention, andsuddencontrasts aglimpseintotherevolutionarymusicalforce whichBeethovenwouldbecome.
HowtoTrainYourDragon
JohnPowell (b.1963)
John Powell is a British composer best known for his thrilling and emotional film scores, particularly in the world of animation. A classicallytrainedmusicianwhostudiedatLondon'sTrinityCollegeof Music, Powell has worked on hit films like Shrek, Kung Fu Panda (withHansZimmer),andtheBourneseries.Hismusicisknownforits rhythmicdrive,colourfulorchestration,andemotionaldepth
HisscoreforHowtoTrainYourDragon(2010)iswidelyconsidered oneofthefinestanimatedfilmsoundtrackseverwritten.Drawingfrom Celticfolktraditions,Powellblendssoaringmelodies,richharmonies, and bold orchestration to bring the world of Vikings and dragons vividlytolife.Themusicmirrorstheemotionaljourneyofthefilm,filled with adventure, discovery, and heartfelt moments. Expect roaring brass,lyricalstrings,anddramaticpercussionthathelptheaudience takeflightwiththecharacters.
Spiderman
DannyElfman
(b.1953)
Danny Elfman began his musical career in an unusual way—as the frontmanofthequirkyrockbandOingoBoingointhe1980s.Hethen transitioned into film scoring, where he found his true calling, becoming one of Hollywood’s most distinctive composers. Elfman is closely associated with director Tim Burton and has written iconic scores for films such as Batman, Edward Scissorhands, The NightmareBeforeChristmas,andmanyothers.
Elfman’s Spiderman theme (from the 2002 film directed by Sam Raimi)capturesthedark,complexworldofateenagesuperhero.The
music combines suspense and grandeur, using brooding harmonies andpowerfulbrassfanfares.Themainthemegrowsfromasenseof mystery into a full-blown heroic statement, reflecting Peter Parker’s transformation and inner conflict. Elfman's ability to blend emotion, action, and a sense of the fantastical makes this theme both memorableandmoving.
TopGunAnthem
HaroldFaltermeyer (b.1952)
HaroldFaltermeyerisaGermancomposerandproducerwhobecame famous in the 1980s for his work on film scores that featured the cutting-edge synthesizer sounds of the time. Trained in classical musicbutfascinatedbyelectronicmusic,Faltermeyermadehismark inHollywoodwithscoresforfilmslikeBeverlyHillsCop(withthehit "AxelF")andTopGun.
TheTopGunAnthemisaperfectexampleof80scinematicscoring. Firstheardinthe1986blockbusterstarringTomCruise,theanthemis both nostalgic and bold, blending electric guitar solos (famously performed by Steve Stevens) with sweeping synthesizer backdrops and orchestral touches. The music reflects themes of courage, camaraderie, and the thrill of flying, becoming a symbol of a generationandremainingpopularthroughthe2022sequelTopGun: Maverick.
INTERVAL
CHAMBERCHOIR
JohnMountfordconductor
MissOtisRegrets ColePorter
EvieHoldersoprano (1891-1964)
Cole Porter was the master of urbane, ironic songwriting, and Miss OtisRegretsisaperfectexampleofhisgenius.Writtenin1934,the song tells a darkly humorous tale of a high-society lady who is lynchedafteravengingaromanticbetrayal.Thepieceisremarkable foritscontrastoflyricaleleganceandshockingnarrative.
for a new film called "Dr. No", he established the unique soundscape foracertainJamesBondandtherestishistory.
The music to the film Out Of Africa pays homage to the plains of Africa by the soaring melodies which reflect the space and timeless feel that is Africa. The same melodies also have more than a fleeting hint towards the melodies that John Barry made so popular in a certain007series.
SoulBossaNova
QuincyJones,arr.Vinson (1933-2024)
Soul Bossa Nova is one of Quincy Jones’s most iconic compositions, blending the rhythmic flair of Brazilian bossa nova with the swing of American jazz. Written in 1962 for his album Big Band Bossa Nova, the piece became an instant hit, showcasing Jones’s ability to fuse stylesandpushmusicalboundaries.
Characterised by its infectious groove and playful melody, “Soul Bossa Nova” captures the spirit of the early 1960s' fascination with Latin rhythms. The tune gained further fame through its use in numerous films and TV shows, most notably as the theme for the AustinPowersfilms‘YeahBaby’.
PiratesoftheCaribbean
KlausBadelt&HansZimmer, arr.Wasson(b.1967&b.1974)
Few film scores in recent memory have captured the swashbuckling spirit of adventure quite like the music for Pirates of The Caribbean. Originally composed for the 2003 film ‘Pirates of The Caribbean: The CurseoftheBlackPearl’,thescoreistheworkofKlausBadelt,under the guidance and collaboration of Hans Zimmer, who would go on to contributemoreheavilyinthesequels.
The music is an exhilarating blend of bold brass fanfares, dramatic ostinatos, and rhythmic energy that perfectly complements the onscreen antics of Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew. Drawing on traditional action-film motifs while injecting a healthy dose of pirate flair,thescorehasbecomeiconicinitsownright.
PERFORMERS
CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Violin
Viola
Cello
Harpsichord
Maya Mbogo, Lizzie Wyer, Evie Holder, Nicola Chotrani, Joshua Lai, Ethan Chan, Emily Holland
Elsa Marsh, Tomas Dickinson
Isabelle White, Bjorn Bantock
John Mountford
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Violin 1
Violin 2
Viola
Cello
Double Bass
Flute
Clarinet
Bassoon
Horn
Trumpet
Trombone
Percussion
Piano
Maya Mbogo, Lizzie Wyer, Nicola Chotrani, Elsa Marsh
Evie Holder, Ethan Chan, Ruby Dudin, Beth Miles
Tomas Dickinson, Alexa Berkin-Evans, Lucy Carr, Emily Holland
Isabelle White, Grace Lai, Bjorn Bantock
Lauren Taylor
Heather McGill, Geoff Tooley
Shonali Banerjee, Ibti Al Sayigh
Harry Kinnear, Jason He, Gill Henshaw
Danté Scott-Horne
Joshua Lai
Eddie
Nicholson, Steve Foster
Ottó Stone
Ryan Hou, Teerna Mukhopadhyay
Natalie Doh, Rosie Johnson
CHAMBER CHOIR
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass
Evelyn Brammer, Penelope Brammer, Bea Cole, Serafina Griffin, Evie Holder, Rosie Johnson, Eloise Snape
Holly Prothero, Ffion Reading, Halldis Stone, Isabelle White, Teerna Mukhopadhyay
Ethan Chan, Alex Forshaw, William Hallam, Ewan Stockwell
Jonathan Ayre, Prince Bharaj, Tomas Dickinson, Ottó Stone
CONCERT BAND
Flute
Clarinet
Oboe
Saxophone
Trumpet
Horn
Trombone
Bass Guitar
Percussion
Shonali Banerjee, Ibti Al Sayigh, Emma Breag, Marni Lennard
Harry Kinnear, Samuel Topaly, Jacob Littlewood, Jason He, Henry Botham, Emilia Bond, Gill Henshaw
Alvina Kwok
George Marshall, Isabella Kluger, Hester Milne, Clara Morgan, Prince Bharaj, Emily Kinnear
Grace Hornsby, Monty Price, Iona Simpson, Lizzie Wyer
Joshua Lai
Ottó Stone, Harry Sutterby
Geoff Tooley
Ryan Hou
THURSDAY
25 September 2025
7.30PM, £20
ProfessionalMusic intheChapel
IKONSingers&DavidHillconductor withOakhamSchoolChamberChoir& RutlandYouthChoir
HerbertHowellsRequiem
JohnRutterDancingTree(UKpremiere)
THURSDAY
22 January 2026
7.30PM, £17
DUOFOLIA
RenJianviolin& CasonKangpiano
Schubert,Kapustin,Stravinsky& Saint-Saënsarr.Ysaÿe
THURSDAY
14 May 2026
7.30PM, £20
STEVEFOSTER’S
ALLSTARBIGBAND
Achancetohearoneofthecountry’stopBigBands, asMrFosterreturnstoOakhamwithhisoutstanding, talent-packedensemble. www.WeGotTickets.com
Allconcertsfreeforschool-agedchildren £45Seasonticketforallthreeconcerts email:boxoffice@oakham.rutland.sch.ukorcall:01572758820
OAKHAMCHORALSOCIETY: ‘SongsforaSummerEvening’
Sunday22June,6.30pm (OakhamSchoolChapel)
RalphVaughanWilliams&CeciliaMcDowall
EmilyHolland violin,LizzieWyer violin JoshuaLai violin,CasonKang piano
EwanStockwell conductor
PROFESSIONALMUSICINTHECHAPEL:
IKONSingers&DavidHill
Thursday25 September,7.30pm (Oakham SchoolChapel) with OakhamSchoolChamberChoir& RutlandYouthChoir
HerbertHowells Requiem JohnRutter DancingTree (UKpremiere)
AUTUMNCONCERT
Friday14November,7.30pm (OakhamSchoolChapel)
BigBand,ConcertBand,ChamberOrchestra& SymphonyOrchestra
Includingmusicfrom RobertoMolinelli, Mozart & Schubert
Tickets are available from WeGotTickets.com, email: boxoffice@oakham.rutland.sch.uk or call: 01572 758820
