Category: Woodbridge News
It was an unadulterated pleasure to attend our extraordinary run of concerts last November and December, from the intimate lunchtime recitals to the spectacular orchestras and choral society. And the last concert of all was as fine as any: the Bands put on a wonderful show, full of seasonal joy and virtuosic energy.
St John’s played excellent host first to Mr Shepherd’s Swing Band, reprising some of its top numbers from the recent Felixstowe excursion. Fantastic! Slick, quick and ‘terrifick’. The Band has a unity to it at the moment as fine as at any time in its distinguished history. The performance set the tone for what was to come, as the smaller ensembles took to the stage: clarinets, recorders, brass, saxophones, trombones, and to round off a sumptuous first half, the Percussion Ensemble with its typically and mesmerizingly hypnotic… (is that a tautology? Surely I am allowed one in Advent?) … Mr-Hubbard-arrangements. Following the themes from one player to another; the interplay and the interweaving; it’s a visual delight as much as an auditory one.
And then after a delightfully convivial interval over mulled apple juice, we were back in our seats for Mr Hubbard’s Concert Band which celebrated and remembered Mr Stafford both through the arrangements it played, the carols it led (good heavens, Mr Hubbard… what a voice you have to inspire your audience to sing back), and the stellar performance it put in.
This was a sparkling evening, and a sparkling conclusion to a term of music making in concert. Our enormous thanks to go everyone in the music department, staff and pupils alike, for all that they have achieved under Mr Penny’s fine leadership and in such difficult circumstances this term. Mr Stafford would have been very proud.
All the Queen’s House children enjoyed a fabulous Christmas party complete with musical statues, pass the parcel and a dance competition that would have impressed the Strictly Come Dancing judges! The children paired up with a friend and pirouetted, waltzed and twirled their way around the hall to festive music and all dressed in their best party outfits. This was followed by a sumptuous tea party; tables groaning with sandwiches, cakes, flapjacks, sausages, crisps and crudités. It wasn’t long before bells could be heard and Santa appeared bearing gifts for each child. The children were so polite and grateful and even offered Santa some carrot sticks for his reindeer! Merry Christmas.
Before Christmas the Y12 and Y13 drama students headed down to Shoreditch to watch Kneehigh’s new production of the ‘Dead Dog in a Suitcase’. Kneehigh are a theatre company of storytellers who create work on both a small and epic scale. ‘Dead Dog in a Suitcase’ is based on the Beggar’s Opera, the satirical musical’s plot is based upon the corruption of a seemingly surreal world, and how all the inhabitants are affected by and play their parts in the villainy. As an A-leave student, it was refreshing to have the opportunity to see a really modern style of theatre which confronts contemporary issues with comedy, music and puppetry. I believe that trips such as these, and in fact all the trips we go on in the drama department, are so important at exposing students to new, different and possibly challenging styles of theatre…which aren’t often seen in Suffolk. We were also very excited when we spotted Mike Shepherd, the director of the show, when we were having dinner. If you look carefully you can spot him in the photo!
Flora Douglas- Year 13- Drama Prefect
The Christmas season has truly kicked off. The School House Boarders enjoyed their Christmas Dinner with staff and guests treated to some entertainment and fun. A mix of classical music and modern pop was blended with some dance before culminating with the School House band. Such is the talent in School House that all were very well entertained.
The Reception children performed the dress rehearsal of “Whoops-A-Daisy Angel” this afternoon. This is a delightful story of an angel who is different from all the rest! They were supported by an audience made up of children from the local nurseries and the Abbey school. They will perform to their parents on Thursday and Friday afternoons.
The Swing Band was in exceptionally fine form, playing as the guest of St Andrew’s Church Felixstowe for its Christmas Concert. The ten-piece set included such wonderful classics as Glenn Miller’s Little Brown Jug and Moonlight Serenade, some Brubeck and Gillespie, and to end a fabulous addition to the repertoire: Coldplay’s God Put a Smile Upon Your Face. With solos drawing warm applause within each piece, and with uncontrollable foot-tapping the order of the day, the audience clearly appreciated the silky skills and high energy of the Band, right down to the big hint of Christmas included in the last few numbers. Brilliant! Thereafter Harrison Cole became accompanist and then organist, for the Felixstowe Children’s Choir (who did a brilliant job with their Christmas songs – all impressively sung from memory) and for the audience, leading us all graciously and expertly through the season’s first carols. A lovely afternoon: our thanks to St Andrew’s for their hospitality.
Theo Bimson and Rosie Greenway were excellent impresarios and hosts to a wonderful evening of Chamber, solo and ensemble music… and even a bit of modern, jazz and improvisation. It really was a sublime programme: rich, varied, pacey, thoughtful, contemplative, cheeky, witty, virtuosic, joyful, and beautifully played throughout. Pupils coming together to support each other, and producing something so successful in the process – it rather sums up the music department, pupils and staff alike. So, congratulations to Theo and Rosie, their friends and peers, and to Mrs Williams as guest accompanist, on an evening which embraced works from Telemann to Sheeran, Summers to Saint-Saëns, Gershwin to Strauss, Williams, Powlesland, Schumann and more. The audience could not have been more delighted or better entertained.