More than 300 children and 30 adults from five local primary schools enjoyed a specially organised concert at QE. The youngsters also made the most of the opportunity to find out more about the instruments they had heard.
The children from Bushey Heath Primary School, Christ Church CofE School, Foulds School, Frith Manor Primary School and Moss Hall Junior School were treated to a broad repertoire including Elgar’s Pomp & Circumstance March No.4, Walton’s Crown Imperial and Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King.
“We were delighted to welcome the children to QE for this musical event,” said Headmaster Neil Enright. “Our place in the local community is of great importance to us and it is very satisfying to have the opportunity to share our facilities and expertise with others.”
The focus of the concert was on recognising the instruments of the orchestra. The QE boys demonstrated, and talked about, their individual instruments. These included the viola, double bass, oboe, bassoon and tuba – some of which the visiting children had not seen before.
QE’s Director of Music, Kieron Howe, said: “The visitors clearly enjoyed their visit and I was very impressed with how entertaining and informative our boys were when explaining their instruments to the younger children. The event was of mutual benefit to all involved.”
Over the course of the concert the visiting children heard the instruments in a large ensemble, small ensembles and individually. Mr Howe said he hoped the experience would inspire the younger children either to take up an instrument for the first time, or to practise their instruments even more.