‘Having Cokethorpe pupils, parents, staff and visitors all come together for the Spring Concert – a celebration of the musical talents of so many, is always a delight… and this year was no exception. From the Prep School up, the audience was treated to some powerful and uplifting performances; it really was a joyful evening of entertainment.
The Senior Orchestra began the evening with a cleverly arranged version by Benjamin Watson of Holst’s The Planets, aptly entitled ‘The Pocket-Sized Planets’. From Mars, the Bringer of War, through to Neptune, the Mystic, we were transported to outer space and, probably, beyond. The tempo, the expression and multi-layers of sound all helped to produce a wonderful spectacle of sound. The ensembles were equally energetic; the Clarinet Ensemble played Benjamin Britton’s Cuckoo, mimicking the birdsong beautifully – a real tonic to hear in early spring – and the Jazz Band played Mercy, Mercy, Mercy by Josef Zawinul, which sounded gloriously soulful and bluesy.
And then there were the soloists: Charlie (First Form, Swift), William (Third Form, Swift), Ralph (Fourth Form, Harcourt), Julia (First Form, Swift) and Lottie (Fourth Form, Gascoigne). Whether it be the clarinet, the saxophone or solo singing, each individual performance was moving and courageous, which represented every reason why they were all prize winners in our recent Musician of the Year competitions.
Concluding the evening with Faure’s Requiem op. 48, Benedict Wilson was in utter control of both voice and orchestra as he conducted us with great aplomb and gusto. The piece reflected the meaning and sentiment of each movement, which left the audience feeling every emotion it instilled. Eva (Fifth Form, Gascoigne) commented: “The second half then brought the excitement of Fauré’s Requiem, performed by both pupils and staff who had been practising for months and other members who learned their part on the afternoon of the concert as part of the ‘Come and Sing’ choir. The Requiem was accompanied by an experienced group of strings players, and not only were there wonderful solos by many performers, but when the entire choir was singing, the most full, accurate, and beautiful sound was produced.’
This was a wonderful culmination of everything that Cokethorpe School does well – showcasing talent, opening its doors to a wider audience and providing great hospitality to all.’
Mrs Pratley
