After QE hosted the qualifying round of a national chamber music festival – the first competitive event to be held in the new Friends’ Recital Hall – ensembles from the School went on to further success in the later stages of the competition.
Six groups reached the semi-final of the Pro Corda National Chamber Music Festival for Schools – a total exceeded by only two other schools nationally – and two of the QE ensembles went all the way to the final at Millfield School in Somerset.
Director of Music Ruth Partington said: “All of the chamber musicians who took part in this year’s Pro Corda competition should be exceptionally proud of themselves. Not only did they perform with great musical maturity at the highest level, but the groups that progressed through the rounds demonstrated a remarkable ability to respond directly to the feedback given by the adjudicator in the masterclass sessions and improve each performance.”
In 2020, the festival final due to be held in March was cancelled because of the looming pandemic. All that year’s finalists, including QE’s Saxophone Ensembles, were named the 2020 Chamber Champions. 2021’s festival was largely called off, again because of the pandemic.
Ten ensembles entered this year’s qualifying round held in The Friends’ Recital Hall – part of QE’s £3.5m-plus new Music School, which will be officially opened next month.
Among them, the Year 13 Flute Trio certainly caught the judges’ attention: they were described as having given “a simply outstanding performance”.
Pro Corda Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director Andrew Quartermain wrote afterwards to Miss Partington and Music teacher Caroline Grint to offer his “huge congratulations for what you have achieved with the chamber music in the school (at any time, but most especially after these recent times!).”
The festival had been honoured to be among the inaugural users of QE’s “wonderful new hall and facilities”, he wrote. “Great students, great day, great company – thank you!”
Of the ten, the trio and the following five other ensembles reached the semi-final, held at Charterhouse School in Surrey:
- Senior Piano Trio
- Piano Quartet
- Junior Violin Trio
- Saxophone Quintet
- Junior Violin Trio
Only the independent Sevenoaks and Perse schools saw more ensembles qualify for the semi-finals nationally. QE’s semi-finalists are pictured, top.
The two ensembles which then reached the final at Millfield were the Junior Violin Trio and the Saxophone Quintet.
The trio were one of five groups competing in the U14 category. The trio comprises: Year 8 pianist Shreyas Iyengar; violin 1, played by Jamie Lam, of Year 7, and violin 2, played by Alex Kronabetter, of Year 8.
There were also five groups in the Saxophone Quintet’s U19 category. The five musicians were: Conor Parker-Delves, of Year 13, playing the soprano saxophone: Leo Sellis, of Year 9, playing the baritone saxophone; Suraj Cheema, of Year 12, playing the tenor saxophone; Leo Dane-Liebesny, of Year 12, playing the alto saxophone, and Nathan Woodcock, of Year 11, also on the alto saxophone.
“Our musicians also presented themselves – and the School – in a totally professional manner, appearing at ease on stage, introducing their repertoire with confidence, and bowing to acknowledge the audience’s warm applause after their performances,” said Miss Partington. “Whilst it wasn’t a win this year for QE’s chamber musicians, to have two groups make it through to the final is an enormous achievement in itself, particularly given the context of difficulties of music-making over the last two years. Bring on next year’s competition!”
“I am also pleased that, following audition, Conor has been offered a place at the highly competitive Royal Northern College of Music to study saxophone when he leaves QE this summer, and Raphael has been offered a place to study Music at Clare College, Cambridge.
Raphael joined with the national Youth Orchestra this winter, as they expanded the strings section. “We played some fantastic music, including Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances and Ravel’s La Valse, and had the opportunity to perform at the Barbican. I am also incredibly excited to be offered a conditional offer for Music at Clare College, Cambridge. I am looking forward to studying music in such an inspiring environment, as well as exploring the huge range of extra-curricular opportunities available.” Alongside the cello, Raphael is a highly accomplished pianist, and also sings in the choir, chamber choir, and barbershop group at QE.
Form and beyond, whether it be with the department at QE, the NYO or at university when the time comes.”
Ryuki, who plays the violin, noted that the School had given him experience of playing in different sized ensembles, as well as in prestigious competitions. “My trio got to the final of the Music for Youth Chamber Music competition and I have played in the Pro Corda Chamber Music competition in both a quartet and a quintet. I aim to take Grade 8 and then try to get into more big orchestras.”
The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols featured not only congregational singing of familiar favourites, but also some lesser-known Christmas music from the School Choir and Chamber Choir. Senior staff and boys from throughout the School delivered the readings, culminating in Headmaster Neil Enright reading the Prologue to St John’s Gospel.
For Years 10 and 11, there was the added bonus of eating the meal in the pristine surroundings of the Mayes Atrium Café – part of the new Music School complex, which is due to be officially opened next term. The facility, built on the site of the previous Mayes Building, is named in honour of Harry ‘Curly’ Mayes, who served the School as butler, porter, steward and caretaker for 60 years, from 1902 to 1962.
The choral pieces at the carol service included:
Headmaster Neil Enright said: “The boys revelled in the opportunity to spend some free time with these wonderful pianos, swapping around to try the different instruments and then enjoying the chance to perform together.
An opening festival for the Music School is being planned for early February – details to follow – all things being well!
The Christmas Concert in the Shearly Hall featured scores of instrumentalists and singers tackling a programme that, although based around a festive theme, was very eclectic in nature.
“The Indian Ensemble’s piece, Dhanashree Thillana, went down really well, as did the Guitar Ensemble’s rendition of Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train. The inclusion of such repertoire in the programme amply demonstrates the importance of making space for different genres and sounds, while also showing very clearly that performance music can be fun.”
“The large numbers of participants in our junior ensembles, such as Junior Strings, was very noticeable: their involvement bodes well for the future.
One undoubted highlight was the online assembly given to the Sixth Form by Roni Savage (pictured above) – engineering geologist, founder of a multi-million pound construction industry consultancy, multiple award-winner…and a QE mum.
Mrs Savage, whose son, Jayden, is in Year 13, is the founder of Jomas Associates, a large engineering and environmental consultancy, and Policy Chair for Construction within the Federation of Small Businesses. She is a Fellow of both the Royal British Institute of Architects and the Institute of Civil Engineering, and is on the current UK Powerlist of Britain’s most influential people of African/Caribbean heritage.