National Competitions A Year of Music

Welcome to ‘Music Faculty Corner, our round-up of events, activities and achievements this last academic year. Before presenting to our readers some of the musical highlights of 2013-14, I would first like to pass on congratulations to Mr Geoghegan who, following two years at St Olave’s, has taken a promotion to the role of Assistant Director of Music at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith. Naturally, I am sorry to be losing him from our team and I will miss in particular his dry wit, his choral conducting and his organ playing enormously.

When a member of the Music staff leaves, it is always with special poignancy that we look back upon the year which has just passed to remember all the best moments. The choirs, orchestras and bands all united once more to give four enjoyable end-of-term and mid-term concerts. Showstoppers, now on its second biannual tour, and the now long-established Jazz Night this year were both evenings of outstanding entertainment. It was also pleasing to be able to take our musicians off-site to experience music in other contexts. The Jazz Band took the Fairfield Hall audience by storm at the Bromley Schools’ Prom in February. Both the A-level and GCSE musicians experienced professional musicmaking by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, whilst the instrumentalists brought the study-works to life. It was also impressive to attend concerts given by the London Schools Symphony Orchestra, demonstrating the vitality of classical music-making amongst the young musicians in the capital.

This was also a year for impressive individual achievements, with one current and one recent Olavian making significant progress through the rounds of the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition. Additionally, over half of the Music A-level leavers secured offers to read Music at university, including one at Cambridge; I wish them all every success in their future pursuits. I hope that all Olavian leavers this year have, in some large or small way, been reached by the musical activities at the school, whether it be through the co-curricular provision, the music in assemblies or special events, in the classroom or from the numerous other occasions in which music has played a significant part. Remember us fondly when you’re reminiscing about your happy times here.

Matthew Price S___Director of Music

Christmas & Easter Concerts

Above: Easter Concert

Below: Christmas Concert

A Coronation Special: The Wakeham Choristers

On 25th September our Choristers of the Queen’s Chapel of The Savoy joined the three other Royal Choirs in a unique concert at Windsor to mark HM The Queen’s 60-year reign. After two hours of rehearsal, and an inter-choir football tournament, they performed great works such as Walton’s’ Te Deum’ to an audience of hundreds. Their solo, ‘O Taste and See’, was described by some as ‘the best item of all!’ They loved the opportunity to perform for The Queen, meet Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and sing with other distinguished choirs. The concert was later broadcast on Classic FM.

A-Level Barbican Trip

On the 14th November a group of students from years 11, 12 and 13 went to the Barbican to a fantastic concert. The London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Valery Gergiev, played a program of music by Hector Berlioz. The concert began with the Waverley Overture and then Mezzo-Soprano Karen Cargill sang Les Nuits d’Été which consisted of six songs accompanied by a smaller, chamber orchestra. After the interval, the full LSO played Symphonie Fantastique which was an exciting end to an enjoyable concert.

Mid-Term Concert

The mid-term concert was held on 13th November and served as an enjoyable showcase for our junior ensembles and many aspiring, solo performers. It was particularly pleasing to see so many performances from both the lower school (with notable performances from Ivan Leung (7C) and Sam Jolly (8L) and the GCSE classes (represented by pianist Kayo Kufeji (10L) and saxophonist Richard Moulange (10J).Violinist Lucy Morrell (12Q) and soprano Jacinta Treloar (13H) offered stylish performances on behalf of the sixth form.

Christmas Concert

In another wide-ranging evening on 4th December, the school’s senior choirs and instrumental ensembles performed a great variety of high-quality music. The Symphony Orchestra took on the ambitious work of Holst, playing ‘Jupiter’ from ‘The Planets Suite’. The St Olave’s Choir was a force to be reckoned with in its rendition of Charpentier’s ‘Messe de Minuit’. It was pleasing for the students to be supported by such a warmly receptive audience. Congratulations go to all involved for some superb music-making.

BBC Young Musician of the Year

Congratulations to Stefan Beckett (2006-2013), now on a scholarship at the Royal College of Music, who has been selected for the percussion final of this prestigious competition.

Showstoppers spectacular!

Star performers treated the audience to a fine display of musical, dance and dramatic talent with extracts from Wicked, West Side Story, The Lion King and Matilda, and superb choreography by Chloe Daley (12P) and Holly Lewis (12W) for Hairspray and The Lion King medley.

Bromley Schools’ Prom

The St Olave’s Jazz Band brought the house down in the Bromley Schools’ Prom at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon. Resplendent in Hawaiian shirts, their electrifying numbers: “The Eye of the Tiger” and “Tequila” set toes tapping and hands clapping. People were up and out of their seats as the group gave a blistering performance, repelling the melancholic worst of the February weather!

Easter Concert

At the Easter Concert the senior Music ensembles, orchestras, choirs and bands delighted the enthusiastic audience with shining examples of the school’s musical best. This was the last major showcase for many Year 13 leavers for whose contributions we are grateful; we hope music will always continue to play a part in their future lives.

Musical Achievements

Congratulations to Lucy Morrell (12Q) who gained a Distinction in her Grade 7 Organ examination with a stunning 139 marks. Well done also to Oscar Ridout (11K) - 115, Grade 6 Organ and Gabriel Ide (9B)126, Grade 5 Piano. Year 13 A-level recitals included impressive performances by Dominic Jelf (13M) (Cello), Dominic McDonald (13F) (Acoustic Guitar) and Karen Mortby (13H) (Oboe).

Carmen

An afternoon at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden saw a splendid matinee performance of Bizet’s classic, Carmen. Spectacular staging and impressive singing made this a memorable experience for many students for whom this was their first foray into the world of opera.

O-Factor

The annual house singing competition, The O-Factor, saw 240 pupils, ably rehearsed by our Music Prefects and House Captains, perform songs, including Keane’s Somewhere Only We Know (Bingham), Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer (Cure), Avicii’s Wake Me Up (Harvard), Pharrell Williams’ Happy (Leeke) and favourite hymns I Vow to Thee My Country and Jerusalem. The winners will receive a new trophy, courtesy of the PA and the fundraising endeavours of our Senior Prefect Team

Jazz Night

Our Annual Jazz Night, the last major musical event of the year was held on Monday 29th April. Those who attended were treated to some impressive solos, from Sam Wootten (11K) and Aaron Lewns (13H), as well as from enthusiastic performances from the Junior Jazz Ensemble, the Senior Jazz Band, and the Dixieland Band. Sam Perkins was awarded the dubious honour of the traditional “worst shirt” accolade. Alongside our talented performers, professional Saxophonist and special guest Derek Nash (accompanied by Jim Treweek on Keyboard, Eric Guy on Bass and Buster Birch on drums) provided an inspirational highlight to the evening with his charismatic playing.

Samba Workshop

The fabric of the Music Department once again shook to the beat of Olavian sambistas. On Tuesday and Thursday of this week, the students of Year 8 were introduced to the rhythmic verve of Brazil. All four form-groups proved that the collective power of nearly thirty percussionists, drumming as if their lives depended upon it, is a force to be reckoned with! It was impressive to see how everyone entered into the spirit of it and, through collaboration, united to become energetic, entertaining ensembles. Each form also managed to invent its own ideas for inclusion in the whole-class performance and so give each one a unique twist. I am looking forward to the Summer Fun Day on Saturday 12th July, when these four samba bands go head-to-head in competition for the Year 8 Samba Band of the Year trophy.

The second mid-term Concert

The Mid-Term Concert proved a civilised alternative to the hysteria surrounding the beginning of a minor football tournament on the evening of Thursday 12th June. The audience was treated to a number of highquality performances from the enthusiastic members of Junior Jazz, Summer Strings and Guitar Group. The middle school fielded several strong performances from Eric Leung (9H), Harry Stanbury (10M) and Richard Decker (10M) and the audience were thoroughly entertained by the Morrell Piano Duo. Well done to all who participated.

Jazz Night

Those of us who attended the annual Jazz Spectacular were treated to a great evening of musical entertainment. Particularly impressive were solos from Samuel Wootten (11K) and Aaron Lewns (13H), and the Senior Jazz Band led by the inimitable Nick Beston. Highlight of the evening was guest saxophonist Derek Nash whose stunning improvisations left us in no doubt about the reasons for his having performed with the likes of Jools Holland and Sir Paul McCartney.

Modern Foreign Languages