Mar. 11 th Mar. Mar. May May June
20th 28th 13th 18th 17th
Recital: Tessa Robbins, Violin, and Robin Wood, Piano. Marlborough Concert. Chamber Music Competition. Recital: Maureen Lehane, Contralto. The Pirates of Penzance, Monkton Hill Opera Group. London Symphony Orchestra—Bath Abbey.
In spite of public examinations, music has not been neglected this year, and frequent concerts and recitals have been arranged for us. A performance that gave us great pleasure was that of the Intimate Opera Company, who included in their programme Menotti's deservedly popular The Telephone. Early in the spring term we heard the New Essex Wind Quintet, led by Clarissa Melville, and a few weeks later a brilliant piano and violin recital by Tessa Robbins and Robin Wood; while in the summer term we enjoyed a song recital by Maureen Lehane. The school itself performed at the Music Festival, the junior songs being particularly good and the orchestra's playing of The Thieving Magpie and the first movement of Haydn's Military Symphony most spirited. Then came the Carol Service at the end of the autumn term, while the spring term saw great preparations both for the concert with Marlborough and for the Chamber Music Competition. Marlborough was very adventurous, and the Sixth forms found themselves confronted with Purcell's Masque from Diocletian, Jean Berger's Brazilian Psalm, and Constant Lambert's Rio Grande. This was a challenge to be met, and while the altos downstairs were practising their difficult intervals and weeding out " growlers," the sopranos upstairs were contending with arpeggios. We were greatly helped by Mr. Harker, who having, at one time, studied under Constant Lambert, was particularly able to interpret his work. Thus, although at the concert itself our ranks were somewhat thinned by quarantine regulations, the performance was carried out with no noticeable hitches and great verve. The choir particularly enjoyed some of the solos in Diocletian. The Chamber Music Competition, which spurred many instrumentalists to great efforts, was again judged by Dr. Still who was kind enough to come for this, the third of these competitions which he originally suggested. A high standard was reached, particularly by Clare Fewtrell, Emma Ferrand and Lorna Williams in the seniors, and by the Morton trio in the juniors. Finally Miss Nesbitt was kind enough to organise an expedition for the Junior Musical Society to see The Pirates of Penzance at 13