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2022-2023 was an especially busy year for the Music Department with a number of additional events on top of the regular performances. The Autumn term saw many enjoyable musical activities starting with Upper School performing their delightfully humorous song ‘Eat Your Greens!’ at the Harvest Festival. The Senior High March Voices were kept especially busy performing two-part anthems at Harvest, Remembrance, Barnardo’s Choir of the Year Competition on top of performances at other key events over the course of the term. Another high-profile event of the Autumn term was the annual carol service, held in St Mary’s and All Saints Church. This started with a delightful unaccompanied first verse solo of ‘Once In Royal David’s City’ by Edith I and was followed by each year group performing a carol or anthem. As well as some very accomplished readings by Year 6, the whole of Upper School came together at the end to successfully sing John Rutter’s arrangement of the ‘Sans Day Carol’. Lent term was, if anything, even busier than the Autumn term and the girls participated in a huge variety of musical events. One of the highlights was Year 5 performing a wonderful lunchtime recital at the United Reformed Church, arranged by one of our singing teachers, Mrs Tudor-Williams. There was a mix of choral and solo items giving the girls valuable performing experience to a very captivated audience. Another notable event of the Lent term was girls from Year 5 and 6 performing at the ‘Energize’ festival following an invitation from the organiser off the back of another festival in which High March had participated earlier in the term. This was again a wonderful opportunity for the girls to gain experience performing in front of a packed theatre, and the girls certainly didn’t disappoint, performing a variety of two-part songs with great musicality and confidence. Well done also to Sylvie and Alex R for their assured and mature solos. Another highlight of both the Spring and the Summer terms was the annual singing picture and shields for each year group from Year 2 up to Year 6. Each girl had to perform a set song as a solo in front of the Headmistress and Director of Music and we were once again astounded and delighted by the confidence and ability of the girls in coping so well with such a challenge. The final major musical event of the summer term was the two Prize Giving ceremonies. The senior ceremony was the Year 6’s final musical ensemble event as High March pupils and the girls (joined by Year 5) provided an emotional yet powerful performance of ‘You Raise Me Up’ which was wonderfully received by the parents and staff. There were also very assured solo performances from the Music Scholars, Ayaana (piano), Ava (flute) and Suri (harp). Well done to all the girls who have taken part in the musical events over the course of the year and I look forward to an even more successful year in 2023-2024.
Mr Hayes – Director of Music
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