Outstanding Music Making at the Royal Hospital School and £3000 raised for local charities
22 Apr 2016
The Royal Hospital School’s annual Gala Concert, supported by the East Anglian Daily Times, was held on Saturday 5 March in the School’s cathedral-proportioned Chapel. There was a near capacity audience and more than £3,000 was raised for local charities including St Elizabeth’s Hospice, Cancer Research UK, Friends of Holbrook Church, Ipswich Riding for the Disabled, Avenues East and Bike Active.
The Concert began with a dynamic fanfare by the Brass Ensemble that grasped the audience from the very first note to set the bar high. Next, the Chapel Choir performed three contrasting pieces, the highlight of which was the contemporary ‘Exalt Us In Your Love’ specially composed by Will Todd for the School’s recent 300th anniversary. After excellent performances by the Chamber Choir and Orchestra, the Brass Ensemble were accompanied by Organ Scholar, Ben Banks, on the magnificent four-manual instrument treating the audience to a powerful rendition of Leon Boellmann’s Toccata from Suite Gothique. The School’s Big Band started the second half of the Concert, adding some upbeat musical swing. Sixth former, Simone Rossouw, reprised her outstanding solo in Sondheim’s ‘I’m Still Here’ which she performed at the BBC Big Band concert held at the School in February. The Concert Band then performed an exciting mix of military and contemporary music: ‘The Best of the Beatles’ was responded to with thunderous applause; the rock medley took listeners on a journey through time; and many young musicians had the chance to shine with solos scattered throughout.
The Gala Concert ended with the talented School Bandmaster’s composition, ‘Am Sailing to Westward’. The Head of Ceremonial, Mr Nigel Griffiths narrated the tragic events of the sinking of HMS Trinidad on which the piece by Mr Richard Harvey, former Director of Music of the Royal Marines Band School of Music, was based. Members of the Ceremonial Guard marched on and the whole performance established a strong sense of the School’s naval heritage.
Attached photo: Gala Concert, The Royal Hospital School Chapel