Gala concert

The Main Hall at the Senior School hosted its first Gala Concert on Saturday (March 14), a concert that showcased the talents of both senior students and prep pupils.

Under the baton of Senior School Director of Music, Andrew Barclay the concert began with the Overture from Les Miserables, setting a tone of passion and excitement for the evening.

The combined Prep and Senior choirs then sang When You Believe, chosen by the Prep singers. This was followed by Robert Scamardella playing Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor (2nd Movement). Robert is a former student of both the Prep and the Senior school and is now teaching at St Bede’s as well as following a career as a concert pianist.

Music from Star Wars and M-G-M followed and then it was the turn of the audience to join in with a rousing rendition of Jerusalem. Particularly special was the orchestra playing Andrew Barclay’s own Fanfare & March, a composition he wrote to enable all musicians, however young, however proficient to join together and make music.

The renowned St Bede’s Jazz bands took to the stage for a Duke Ellington Medley followed by Custer’s Salute to the Big Bands and the evening closed with the grand finale of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.

The purpose of the evening was to afford an opportunity for musicians young and old, experienced and inexperienced, amateur and professional, to join together to make and listen to live music.

It was a wonderful evening, as witnessed by the applause from the 600 plus audience.