Written by Catherine, Year 10
On Thursday 15th June, Senior Music Scholars played a lunchtime concert at the University Church, Oxford.
Somewhat ominously, the announcer introduced it as being “Slightly different to their usual lunchtime concert.” We decided to take this as a compliment and we hope that they enjoyed it. I was excited to play in such a lovely venue. The audience was a mixture of parents, locals and tourists who came and went during the concert.
Dr Foster had put together a very varied programme, in terms of both the instruments and the style of music played. Alison opened the concert with a beautifully lyrical Beethoven Romance, I followed up with Saint-Saens’ bassoon sonata and then, with her expressive playing of Grieg’s Notturno, Rosa introduced a reflective mood.
None of us could quite understand how, with just two hands, Hailey controlled four mallets on the marimba in her rendition of Michi by Abe. Gabi wowed us with her virtuosic cadenza to Mozart’s Flute Concerto and Lixuan, on violin, played Bloch’s arresting and haunting Nigun.
Haley demonstrated how versatile an instrument, the harp, can be with an arrangement of a Chinese traditional piece called “Amid flowers beside the river under a spring moon.”
The resounding finale was provided by Saralynn playing Bach’s St Anne’s Fugue on the organ.
It was a very enjoyable occasion and we really hope to be invited back. Thank you to Dr Foster for arranging and running the event and to Ms McMillan. We are also very grateful to Ms Rainbird and Ms Hinds for accompanying us.
