End of Spring term Music roundup
Steinway Recital - Wednesday 26 February 2025
Our annual Steinway Piano Recital took place on 26 February - the first recital since our 1976 Steinway Model D grand piano was fully rebuilt earlier this year thanks to the generous support of the Bedales community.
Students, staff and Old Bedalians came together to perform a varied programme in the Assembly Hall, opening with the thunderous passages of Rachmaninov’s ‘Prelude in C-sharp minor (Op. 3 No. 2)’ and closing with the uplifting energy of Kenny Garrett’s ‘Sing a Song of Song’.
From 6.2 student Evie’s near debut of Einaudi’s ‘Le Onde’ to OB Joel Edgeworth’s (2009-24) ‘party piece’ - Schumann’s ‘Kinderszenen’ - the recital was a fitting way to celebrate not only the restoration of the iconic instrument, but also the musical talents of the School community.
Spring Concert - Wednesday 19 March 2025
By Doug Mcilwraith, Director of Music, Bedales Senior
The Spring Concert was the main musical focus this half term and showcased the hard work of the students in the Orchestra, choirs and Jazz Band. The Orchestra filled the entire stage of the new Assembly Hall and delighted the audience with Tchaikovsky’s famous theme from Swan Lake and Ennio Morricone’s haunting theme from Cinema Paradiso, which featured 6.1 (Year 12) student Lolo as the piano soloist and Block 3 (Year 9) students Florence, George and Francesca supporting on obbligato woodwind solos against a warm string orchestra led by Jonah (6.2). The Orchestra then finished with a rousing rendition of the Back to the Future theme which the students have thoroughly enjoyed learning.
The Choir numbered almost 60 and gave a great performance of movements from Mozart’s 'Coronation Mass' accompanied by a professional orchestra with Bedales students supporting and playing to a very high standard. Mozart’s 'Mass' is a wonderful piece with rapid accompaniment, soaring melodies and tricky interweaving polyphonic lines which the Choir clearly enjoyed singing alongside the polished and professional orchestra. A note of all the great soloists and Bedalian players can be found in the programme below and we congratulate them for their significant contribution. The Choir then finished off with gospel arrangements of 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' and 'How I got over' with terrific improvised solos from Charlotte in 6.1 (Year 12) and Raffy in Block 5 (Year 11).
The Jazz Band has gone from strength to strength this year and they closed the concert with three great jazz numbers, the most of exciting of which was 'Tank!', a recent piece with amazingly rich harmonies and tricky rhythms which the performers clearly relished. By general consensus, this was one of the most polished and enjoyable concerts we’ve put on for years and I thank all the students who commit to rehearsals every week and put in the hours practising to make these great occasions possible.
Music Exhibitioners' Concert - Tuesday 25 March 2025
By Harry Boulton, Teacher of Music, Bedales Senior
Twenty musicians took to the stage in the Lupton Hall as part of the Exhibitioners' Concert on 25 March. The concert featured a wide range of musical repertoire - from some Frank Sinatra on the baritone sax, played by 6.2 (Year 13) student Jake, to a French chanson sung by Block 4 (Year 10) student Marlowe, and some Handel played beautifully on the harp by Monty in 6.2 (Year 13), to name just a few.
A particular well done to the musicians who showed real dedication by performing despite being in the midst of their BAC exams and a bittersweet congratulations to the 6.2s for whom this was their final Exhibitioners’ Concert at Bedales - Monty, Pandora, Florence, Bryn, Chloe, and Jake.