Music & Drama

Music and Drama

Music and Drama2018/19

450th Anniversary celebrations in Douai - September 2018

On Saturday 22nd September 2018, the entire St Edmund’s community of students, staff and parents travelled to Douai for an historic Mass at the Collégiale Saint-Pierre. However, the week prior to that saw the Schola Cantorum, College Orchestra and a range of sports teams travel to France for a series of celebrations, concerts, fixtures and festivities! As well as being an opportunity to celebrate the 450th anniversary of our College, this week was also an excellent chance to get to know the town of Douai and its people. The concert in Douai was amazing to play in. With acts ranging from Orchestra playing sea shanties, to a group of boys singing Barber Shop Billy Joel. All who participated displayed a wonderful attitude and created special memories. The trip required expert organisation and took months and months of planning, which made it more enjoyable and rewarding. Thank you to everybody who took part, especially those involved in the organisation of the trip.

450th Anniversary Spring Concert

The 2019 Spring Concert was a wonderfully creative showcase and an opportunity for the College’s Musicians, various Ensembles and Vocalists to really demonstrate how much their hard work, extra rehearsals and lunchtimes spent in the Music School have paid off. Donning our new 450th year T-Shirts and encouraged by a large, appreciative and enthusiastic audience the students performed throughout the evening with enthusiasm and real dedication to their craft. An evening of so many memorable moments it is difficult to highlight them all, the standard was so high.

The evening had a very special atmosphere, not least because of the varied programme, which demonstrated the depth and variety of the music making within the department and an extremely high level of performance from students in all years. Ensembles such as the Flute Group and Jazz Band had a complete range of students including two students from the Prep School, Jemima Uzoka and Gabriela Twiss who have joined the College Orchestra this year. Jemima also played oboe alongside James Hanley, Edward Marshall and Catherine Wild in an Oboe Quartet, which was a wonderful opportunity for her.

The evening began with a beautiful rendition of ‘Return to Skye’ by Keith Sharp performed by the String Ensemble and directed by Samantha Slade. They were accompanied by Edward Marshall who also gave his first performance as pianist with the College Jazz Band later in the evening. Two new Rhetoric students, Ruidi Zhu and Emily Connor, Music Scholar, gave very accomplished performances playing the first movement of a Beethoven Sonata and Doppler’s ‘Hungarian Pastoral Fantasie’ respectively.

For the first time in a Spring Concert we had a ‘Drum Duel’ featuring Poets Henry Stuckey and Leo Carr (accompanied on Bass Guitar by Mr Coombs and Oliver Martin on Electric Guitar). Both Leo and Henry have passed their Grade 8 examinations and gave the audience a real treat by playing the Beach Boy’s ‘Wipe Out’ and battling it out with flair and enthusiasm.

Both Senior and Junior Rock Bands performed with the older students being instrumental in the success of the younger students giving support and encouragement when running the junior rehearsals at lunch times. It was the first ever concert performance for young guitarists Marley Cooper and Eva van de Ven who were joined by Giorgia Buraglio on guitar, Leo Carr on drums and lending his vocal talents, Rhetoric & Rock Band member Louie Seers.

An integral part of proceedings, Oliver Martin played both electric and acoustic guitar in different ensembles displaying his talent on both instruments. Joining Daniel Garvin who played violin for their duet ‘Libertango’ by Piazzolla and giving a mesmerising performance of two pieces from Roland Chadwick’s ‘Letter from LA’ as part of the Senior Guitar Trio with Miss Barreda and Mr Waters.

Featured Vocalist Freya Burke displayed her ability to cover different genres with ease by singing Toto’s ‘Hold the Line’ with Rock Band and then channelling Ella Fitzgerald when performing with Jazz Band who had never performed with a singer before but enjoyed this extra dimension to the Ensemble. Our Schola Cantorum were also on fine form performing The Carpenter’s ‘Close to You’ and Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.

The College Orchestra, conducted by Mr. Benham gave very polished performances of the ‘Overture to the

Marriage of Figaro’ by Mozart and an arrangement of the music from Disney’s’ Beauty and the Beast’. Students had put in extra effort by giving up a Sunday afternoon to rehearse for the concert and this definitely showed in the expressive quality and mood of both performances. Thanks must be given to the Peripatetic Staff and Mr Brooker for adding their instrumental expertise to the Orchestra. For the Finale, Orchestra were joined on stage by Schola to perform a specially commissioned arrangement of Elbow’s ‘One Day Like This’ (arranged for Choir and Orchestra by Paul Ayres) which was a fitting end to a wonderful evening.

Concerts and Recitals

As well as the large scale Concerts and events, it was lovely to have so many talented students participate in smaller, less formal, recitals. These included String Recitals, Music Theatre evenings as well as Junior and Senior Recitals. Some pupils were performing to an audience for the very first time. Those studying GCSE and A Level Music also gave recitals and the quality of music making at all was wonderful.

A Level Recital

On Thursday 8th March, our A Level Music students gave an excellent performance of pieces in a small concert for family and friends. Performance on their chosen instrument or voice is worth 35% of their final A Level grade and so the opportunity to practice this skill and be marked to the final examination criteria is important. Students will now be working with their instrumental and vocal teachers to put together a programme to the correct standard, and with the necessary variety of style.

It is an important exercise to do early on in the linear A Level course; students might be choosing a piece they need to learn from scratch and need the necessary time to perfect their technique, fluency and levels of expression. Following the concert, the students received marks and feedback for improvement using the final A Level criteria.

Emily Connor gave an outstanding performance of Fantasie by Georges Hue on her flute with an impressive range of tonal qualities resulting in a stylish and colourful performance. Luca Buraglio performed both vocal and piano pieces: Moonlight Sonata - Beethoven and Se Vuol Ballare - Mozart with an emerging level of confidence. Yuanxu (William) Han is currently working for his Grade 8 piano and was courageous in performing Bach's Gigue, a complete contrast to his usual default to piece by the composers from the Romantic period, such as Chopin. Freya Burke performed Losing My Mind from the Musical Follies with a vocal quality, which is showing increasing maturity and control. Thanks go to Mr Benham, also their A Level teacher, for accompanying them.

All the students are at very different points in their musical journey, but are working hard to achieve the very best they can in technical prowess and expressive control. Very well done all!

Piano Masterclass

We were delighted to invite back to the Music School, Erdem Misilioglu. He first came to the College to perform the repertoire he played at the Young Musician of The Year Competition in 2008, which he went on to win. He was also a prize winner of the International Rachmaninov competition in Russia in 2006 . After studying piano with Martin Roscoe at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama he is now a professional pianist performing as a soloist and also with a trio. He has received masterclasses himself from Peter Donohoe and Lang Lang.

Eight of the College’s senior pianists took part in the Masterclass. Alvaro Sanchez Martinez, William Han, Ruidi Zhu, Brian Ting, AJ Oruman, Luca Buraglio , Caspian Plummer and Edward Marshall, playing a range of music from Mozart, Beethoven to Debussy and Rachmaninov.

They each presented a piece they were currently working on to the rest of the group. Erdem then discussed their performance and gave them tips for further practice.

His suggestions included topics such as, posture, use of arm strength when using tenuto, how to bring out inner melodies, the use of diminuendo, placement of notes within a phrase. Erdem concluded the Masterclass with a performance of Beethoven’s Appasionata Sonata No. 23.

Duo Concert

Oliver Martin received an enthusiastic and warm reception when he collaborated in a recital with former music scholar & Old Edmundian, violinist Daniel Garvin, at a lunchtime concert in All Saints Church Hertford. Although Daniel is now studying at the Purcell School, the two musicians have remained friends and are building a successful duo. Oliver and Daniel performed their own arrangement of the anonymous Spanish Romance together with music by Piazolla and Paganini. They performed with great flair and assurance and with an outstanding understanding and 'feel' for the music complemented by the All Saints Ambience. With two such talents, this is a duo who are sure to go far. Bravo!

Sam Hay-Campbell

It was a very busy and musical summer for one of our Music Scholars, Rudiment Samuel Hay-Campbell. Sam started the Summer holidays by participating in ‘Noyye's Fludde’, a one-act Opera by Benjamin Britten, intended primarily for amateur performers, particularly children. This was a great experience for Sam who then moved onto singing with his Church Choir at St Paul’s and Norwich cathedrals including a lovely solo at Evensong in Norwich despite being rather nervous! Sam was then nominated by a local music service to attend some workshops with the London Symphony Orchestra which will culminate in a concert at St Luke’s in Central London in November.

Goodbye to KSK

After 15 years, Karen Salter-Kay retired as Director of Music at the end of the 2019 Trinity term. Her colleagues in the Music Department gave her a wonderfully warm send off with Peripatetic Teachers and Music Staff past and present coming along to say their farewells on a beautiful summer evening. There was much reminiscing of concerts, special masses, choir tours & college productions and many a story told.

A keen gardener, Karen has green as well as musical fingers and was presented with many special musical gifts, including the beautiful “Benjamin Britten” Rose that she is able to plant and remember her time at St Edmund’s. Everyone wishes Karen a long and happy retirement and thank her for her huge contribution to the musical life of the college.

Music and Drama2019/20

Welcome to Mr Woodhall

September 2019 saw many new arrivals to the College; a new Director of Music (Mr Woodhall) a new Music Teacher (Mrs Colligan) who were both delighted to be joining the superb Music team.

Keen to maintain and build on the strong tradition of choral singing at the College, Mr Woodhall directed the Schola Cantorum in Bruckner’s Locus Iste at a Commissioning Mass to welcome the new Headmaster, Mr Mostyn. It was wonderful that so many pupils wanted to audition to be part of a new chamber choir: Cantores. This choir sang at the Service of Prize Giving for new scholars and on Open Day.

Schola Cantorum sang ‘Greater Love Hath No Man’ an anthem by Mr Woodhall for the Remembrance service. A few days later, the Choirs were very much part of the St Edmund’s Day celebrations and Schola Cantorum sang the anthem ‘O Thou the Central Orb’ by Charles Wood magnificently. Cantores sang William Byrd’s ‘Ave Verum Corpus’ during communion and did so beautifully.

Christmas 2019

Christmas was celebrated in style in 2019! The orchestra played a suite from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker at the Senior Citizens’ party in the Butler hall. They went on to play a number of carols for which the audience and members of both the College and Prep choirs sang. A number of soloists, particularly Boarders also played and the concert finished with the cast of Me and My Girl singing ‘The sun has got his hat on’ and, of course, the Lambeth Walk!

The College Carol service was a tremendous celebration. The service began with a solo verse of ‘O Come, O Come Emanuel’ from the back of the Chapel and all the choirs processed in during this. A brass quintet featuring several of the College’s peripatetic teachers added a tremendous energy at loud moments to the superb accompaniment provided by Mr Benham on the organ. As well as the traditional congregational hymns, the service featured a variety of choral items from three separate choirs; the Junior Schola, the Senior Schola and Cantors. All of the choirs sang superbly, and particular highlights included Junior Schola singing Carol of the Bells, Cantores singing Darke’s In the Bleak Midwinter, Senior Schola’s rousing rendition of Sussex Carol with Brass and all the choirs combined singing Rutter’s Shepherd’s Pipe Carol. Of course, the service concluded with the College Carol ‘Adeste Fideles’ or, O Come All Ye Faithful complete with Brass fanfare. A wonderful celebration.

Music Theatre Club

Mr Veasey’s Music Theatre Club proved to be a big hit with students from all year groups. Meeting once a week during the Music School, the students sang songs from musicals such as 13, Bring it On and Songs for a New World. They also learned how to use harmonies and sing in an ensemble. Once COVID restrictions are lifted, there are plans to relaunch the club and hold concerts and events throughout the year.

Music School Lockdown

When the lockdown was announced St Edmund’s, along with all schools, had to close its doors. Lessons went online and many fantastic innovations were quickly embraced. It was a time of some uncertainty and so to lift everyone’s spirits, the staff of the College and Prep united to create a video of Pharell’s ‘Happy’ which Mr Woodhall produced. Soon after the students created their own and Edward Marshall organised the cast of ‘Me and My Girl’ to sing the Lambeth Walk. Staff and students managed to film some Hymns in the Chapel ahead of the school closure and it was a tremendous celebration when, towards the end of term, a small group of students were able to come into the chapel

and record ‘Sing England’s Sons’ for use in the Virtual Speech Day celebrations.

Lambeth Walk in Lockdown: It was the start of lockdown, when the College Production was one of the last things that we had all been involved in before the world shut down. I was starting to see more and more virtual choir projects going around social media and thought it would be fun to have a go at one ourselves. The aim was really to make a few people laugh when everything else was seeming rather gloomy! I managed to convince a few of my fellow castmates to have a go, and after a tedious amount of time editing and syncing everything together, we finally had a finished product! – Edward Marshall, Rhetoric Every week during both the 2018–19 and 2019–20 academic years, nearly 200 music lessons took place. A large number of pupils having instrumental and singing lessons took external exams with the ABRSM, Trinity, Rockschool and LCM.

During 2018-20 over 150 pupils took an exam and 100% passed. Notable achievements included:

•London College of Music Musical Theatre exams were a particular success with a total of 19 Distinctions and 11 Merits awarded. Particular congratulations to

Jessie Roberts who achieved 100%. The Examiner was very impressed by the high standard of all performances on the day.

•The ABRSM and Trinity Practical Exams were very positive with a large number of Distinctions and

Merits being awarded.

A big thank you must go to all of our Visiting Music Teachers for all their hard work in preparing the students for their exams.

College Production 2019

School of Rock

Still reeling from the chaos of Starlight Express, the announcement of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock as the 2019 College production was greeted with tremendous excitement by the students, many of whom were big fans of the original Jack Black movie. Barely had the Starlight cast put away their roller skates and wigs, when many of them were back in the Douay Hall, rehearsing with guitars and drumsticks in hand. Over the course of their subsequent three-night run at Broxbourne’s Spotlight Theatre, from the 30th January to the 1st February, the student’s of St Edmund’s thrilled, entertained and, it’s safe to say, rocked.

From the very first scene there were cheers and laughs from the audience. Sporting an Axl Rose-esque blonde mullet wig and red bandana, Rory Chick gyrated his way onto the stage as Theo, the pretentious lead singer of No Vacancy. The opening scene set the stage for our introduction to Dewey Finn, played with heart and energy by the supremely talented Oliver Martin. At numerous College events throughout his career at St Edmund’s, Oliver has wowed (or in the words of Dewey, ‘melted’) audiences with his mesmerising musical talent on the guitar, making this the perfect role for him. His energetic rendition of When I Climb to the Top of Mount Rock is the first true roof raiser of the evening, performed with an intensity that does not relent throughout the whole evening. As well as being a show of incredible music, School of Rock is also undeniably funny. It is in these early scenes that the audience are introduced to the incredible comedic talent of Oliver Welsby. Playing the role of Ned’s awkward-but-amiable pal Ned Schneebly, Oliver charms, snorts and shrugs his way through the show, delivering his lines and jokes with impeccable timing. In any scene starring Ned, his domineering and demanding other half Patty, another favourite with the audience, is never close behind. Congratulations to Imogen Burton for playing Patty with such presence and charisma.

The action soon shifts to the corridors and classrooms of Horace Green Prep, where Dewey has landed a ‘gig’ as a substitute teacher. We meet Headmistress Rosalie Mullins, played by the fantastic Freya Burke, whose exceptional vocals are a particular highlight, and, of course, Dewey’s class of rock apprentices. This was a younger cast than usual for a St Edmund’s production, with many students from Elements and Rudiments taking up prominent roles. The energy, enthusiasm and sheer talent on display bodes very well for the future, with the likes of Brook Westfall (in the role of guitarist Zack Mooneyham), Alex Chotiros (as keyboarder

Lawrence) and Jake Mackaill (as band stylist Billy Sandford) all excelling. They were backed up by a delightful ensemble of singers and dancers, who had a constant skip in their step and kept the energy levels always dialled up to 11.

As Dewey’s rock education of his students progresses, yet more vocal and instrumental talent graces the stage. Jessie Roberts is a tour de force as band manager Summer, whilst Alicia Chugh blows everyone away with her powerful and commanding vocals as the shy and retiring Tomika. Siblings Caspian and Honeysuckle Plummer make up the remainder of Mr Finn’s class band, as Freddie Hamilton on the drums and Katie on bass guitar; their ability to act, sing and play with such poise throughout is simply staggering.

There are plenty of other highlights, too many here to list, though I will mention Rory Chick’s reappearance on stage as flamboyant suburban father as a moment that triggered an especially hearty roar of laughter from the crowd.

There are few things that make me prouder to be a teacher in Edmundia than watching our students do themselves proud on the stage, and perform with such talent and professionalism. The College production requires Herculean levels of commitment, energy and determination. While a single performance may last a couple of hours, anyone involved will tell you that it is a culmination of hundreds of hours of rehearsals and countless trips up and down the A10. The students’ ability to balance this with their academic studies, and often many other co-curricular pursuits, is inspiring.

Speak to any cast member and they will wax lyrical about the work that has to take place behind the scenes for a show of this scale to take place. Mr Jason Hounsell will always be one of the first names uttered and praised. His tireless work in ensuring that everything off stage runs smoothly, and management of a vast crew of stagehands, deserves special thanks. Below I have quoted Director Alexander Purves’ special thanks from the School of Rock programme, which hopefully helps to provide some insight into the work and commitment required from a whole range of people to succeed in putting on such a show. Each year, St Edmund’s chooses to be bold and ambitious in its choice of musical; it is because we know that we can rely on such an incredible community of people that we can afford to be so. Avita Pro Fide!

“Special thanks goes to… Paulo Duran, Nikki King, Melanie Burke, Linsey Edmunds, the St Edmund’s College Finance team, Sandra Chadwick and all the Porters, Rachel Bull and the Holroyd Howe team, The Spotlight Theatre, Golden Boy Coaches, Stevensons for the costumes and all the parents for their support and for being the best ‘taxi drivers’ in the world!” Alexander Purves, Director

The view from the pit: Edward Marshall

Playing in the pit band for School of Rock was a whole new experience for me, as in the past I had been up on stage. Having only started to look at my score for Keyboard 1 a month before the show, rehearsals were never boring! I have great memories of playing music with friends and some of the card games during the dress rehearsals when we weren't playing! I also remember Mr Purves went to start the dress run of Act 2 early, but somehow forgot to tell Mrs Salter-Kay about this. The lights went down, and no conductor was to be seen, meaning I had to attempt to conduct the band (but they had to try and figure out what my uncertain waving hands meant!), but by the end of the number Mrs Salter-Kay was found and I was finally saved and went back to my comfortable position behind the keys!

Playing in the pit band exposed me to a very different type of ensemble playing and I loved every minute!

College Production 2020

Me and My Girl

The College’s 2020 production of Me and My Girl represented a shift away from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals of previous years, and towards a more traditional era of British musical theatre. Originally conceived in 1937, it was revived and popularised by Stephen Fry in the 1980s, receiving critical acclaim for its run in the West End and on Broadway. It therefore presented a different kind of challenge for the students of Edmundia, perhaps lacking the raucous spontaneity of School of Rock, but nevertheless requiring them to tap dance, sing in a range of styles and master all manner of accents.

‘The Sun Has Got His Hat On’, sings the show’s protagonist, Bill Snibson. It is safe to say that this was not the case as the crowds packed into The Spotlight Theatre on a bitterly cold January evening to watch the show’s opening performance. However, I am delighted to the audience was soon warmed up by a production of irresistible cheer and charm.

For those unaware of the show’s premise, Me and My Girl is set in the 1930s and takes place in two worlds, the vast and grand estate of Hareford Hall and the streets of Lambeth, south London. We are first introduced to a motley crew of upper class oddballs and eccentrics who roam the halls of the Hareford estate. They include the prim and proper Maria, the Duchess of Dene (played by Imogen Burton) and Sir John Tremayne (Oliver Welsby), who seek the true heir to the title of Earl of Hareford. Never far behind are the aurally challenged Lord Jasper (Francis Butterworth), eligible bachelor Gerald Bolingbroke (Rory Chick) and feisty Lady Jacqueline (a role shared by Maddie HudsonClements and Honeysuckle Plummer).

It is when we are introduced to the character of Herbert Parchester that turmoil occurs. Edward Marshall’s hilarious and charismatic rendition of ‘The Family Solicitor’ is endlessly entertaining. He reveals that the true heir to the estate has indeed been found…on the streets of inner-city London.

Caspian Plummer’s captivating performance as ‘rough around the edges’ Lambeth cockney Bill Snibson exudes wit and charm. Bill finds himself a fish out of water when he is whisked away to Hareford Hall, where he is torn between a hefty inheritance and his girl, Sally, who is swiftly deemed unworthy by the Duchess and Sir John. Sally Smith is played in alternate performances by Shannon Hunt and Jessie Roberts, with both girls commanding the stage and capturing the hearts of the audience with the character’s warmth and wisdom. The heart-wrenching performance of ‘Once You Lose

Your Heart’ is among the more poignant moments of the evening.

The central characters are, as always, helped along by an immensely talented supporting cast. The supporting cast’s attention to detail and commitment to their craft, I would argue, can be the difference between a good and a great show, so I am delighted to report that every single student that stepped foot on the stage excelled. Jake Mackaill, as Charles the Butler, Oliver Howell, as the Police Constable, and Emily Thomas, as the hilariously named Mrs Worthington-Worthington, all make relatively brief, but memorably entertaining appearances on the stage, each drawing laughter and applause from the crowd.

The ups, downs, twists and turns continue, but by the time the final ‘Lambeth Walk’ rolls around, all is well at Hareford Hall, and Bill has taken up his Earlship, with ‘Sal’ by his side and on his arm. The feelgood factor of the show is tangible, with everyone in the audience left with a smile on their face and skip in their step.

I would therefore like to take this opportunity to doff my cap, Bill Snibson style, to everyone involved in Me and My Girl. A huge congratulations to each and every cast member for an unforgettable performance. Equally, a show like this requires a huge team of technical support, prop, costume and make-up assistants, as well as runners and stagehands to make everything ‘tick’, so it is only fair and appropriate that we also acknowledge their stellar work in contributing to the production’s success. Watching a St Edmund’s musical is much like watching a duck swim across a lake; smooth and serene on the surface, but requires furious paddling underneath to ensure everything stays afloat!

I look ahead to next year’s production with excitement and anticipation. There is, it seems, no end to the talents of our students, who, year on year, take on and overcome immense challenges to entertain our Edmundian community.

A performer’s perspective – Caspian Plummer

Me and My Girl was in my opinion one of our best shows of all time! All the students demonstrated immense talent and the final result was brilliant. I played Bill Snibson, and I found it challenging but hugely enjoyable to learn to tap dance, speak in cockney rhyming slang and even how to control my stamina after the onehundredth repetition of 'Doing the Lambeth walk'. The Show, every year is what I, and many others look forward to most. The dedication, determination, and ambition to excel in a successful show is not only shared amongst the student, but with all the amazing staff and team that support us. Every year they pull a new idea out of the bag, and every year they manage to pull it off! Me and My Girl will always be something I look back on as a great achievement, but also a great time.