A Resounding Success: James Meldrum’s Clarinet Recital
What an absolutely superb afternoon we had on Wednesday 21 May, with our very own clarinet teacher, James Meldrum, who treated us to a truly inspiring Clarinet Recital in the School Hall! Mr Woodley, our Director of Music shares his review of the afternoon.
Mr Woodley, Director of Music
“It was fantastic to see so many students from our school, as well as local senior and primary schools, come together to hear James perform and share his incredible passion for the clarinet.
James, who is the principal clarinet of the New European Ensemble in the Netherlands and specialises in contemporary and 20th-century music, showcased his immense talent with a diverse and captivating programme. From the rhythmic allure of Astor Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango (featuring the ‘Bordel 1900’ movement) to the virtuosic flair of Alamiro Giampieri’s Il Carnevale di Venezia, every piece was performed with astonishing skill and musicality.
The audience was particularly enchanted by George Gershwin’s classic Summertime, and the technical brilliance of Donato Lorreglio’s Fantasia da Concerto su motivi de “La Traviata” di G. Verdi and Artie Shaw’s Clarinet Concert truly highlighted the clarinet’s versatility and expressive range.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Maciej Kassak for his superb accompaniment on piano, and a special thank you to Gerry Gillins on drums for adding their fantastic contributions to what was a truly memorable concert – and I thoroughly enjoyed accompanying on guitar!
Concerts like this are invaluable for encouraging and inspiring our young musicians, and it was clear from the captivated faces in the audience that James’s performance had a profound impact.
We are incredibly fortunate to have such a world-class musician and dedicated educator as part of our Music department.”
