Music

Mr. James Laight - Director of Creative Arts and Music

I am absolutely delighted that this year has seen a welcome return to a full musical programme, both in school and out of school. Indeed, I get the impression that even more is happening now than it did a few years ago!

Following the return of the Joint Peponi Schools’ Music Teachers’ Seminar & INSET in early September, we continued our hosting of the Young Vocalist’s Competition in late September with the Finals on Sunday 9th October. Despite having only four entries, Amara Pannu reached the Junior Final and Maansi Ruparel won the Senior Final, triumphing over four other competitors from St. Andrews, Turi.

Our Remembrance Service was poignant as ever with Taha Jivanji (Trumpet) performing the Last Post and the Rouse, our Combined Choirs singing After the War and the String Ensemble performing Barber’s Adagio for Strings. In mid-November, the Nairobi Orchestra concerts featured a number of Peponi Sta , with Mr. Laight playing violin, Mr. Wataka conducting and Ms. Davies playing cello. Our Michaelmas Concert on 28th November was earlier than usual due to the school exams, with around two hours of quality performances from our pupils and sta along with a special guest appearance from the Nairobi Chamber Chorus.

As we entered the Hilary term, we realised just how much was going on! Pinkey Mhajan and Reeyan Gosrani performed at the Annual Music Recital Event at Oshwal Academy Nairobi (Junior High) on Wednesday 25th January and less than a week later, we welcomed the return of ‘live’ practical examinations with a visiting examiner for the London College of Music exams.

e Inter-House Music Competition in early February was, I believe, the best I’ve ever seen in my time at Peponi School, involving around half of the pupils in the school. e category winners were Darsh Shah (Junior Instrumental Solo), Baraka Wakaba (Junior Vocal Solo), Ronav Vora (Senior Instrumental Solo) and Neha Shah (Senior Vocal Solo). e overall winners were Jipe, once again, but Magadi were incredibly close!

At the end of the February half-term break, the Young Musician’s Competition returned as ‘live’ preliminaries at Kenton College followed by the Finals on Sunday 5th March. We had our best ever performance in the competition with Reeyan Gosrani (Saxophone) winning the Intermediate Solo category and Ruchi Raja reaching the Intermediate Solo nal. In the Open Ensemble category, our Flute Trio (Wanjiru Kibuchi, Kheya Shah & Katanu Muindi) came 2nd and our Saxophone Trio (Aarav Patel, Ngumo Kibuchi & Reeyan Gosrani) came 3rd. In the Senior Solo category, Dia Khimasia (Saxophone) came 3rd whilst Samyak Raja (Violin) was declared the winner!

Only a few days later, we hosted, for the rst time, the Peponi School Concert Festival which involved around 250 pupils and 20 sta from ISK, Rosslyn Academy, St Austin’s Academy, MPESA Foundation Academy and our own pupils. e audience was treated to a variety of Choirs, Concert Bands and Orchestras. It was a real success and we hope to continue hosting it.

e Hilary concert involved many high quality solos and ensembles and also a memorable guest performance from the visiting soloist for the Nairobi Orchestra concerts, Sam Brown (Guitar). e Nairobi Orchestra concerts themselves took place at Peponi House on 18th & 19th March with Mr. Laight conducting and Mr. Wataka on clarinet.

We very much look forward to the next academic year where we will continue to develop and expand our use of the additional practice rooms, the recording studio and the Chapel.