On Wednesday 14 October, the Prospect Theatre played host to the first Music Scholars’ concert of the year. In addition to featuring established second year scholars, the evening also announced the arrival of the College’s first year scholars playing in the theatre for the very first time.

There were no signs of nerves as all the students reached quite astonishing levels of performance. As second year Soprano, Emily Beech explains, “This year’s first Scholars’ Concert was of an incredible standard. The variety of pieces and performances was completely inspiring.”

Works ranged from J. S Bach to Wiffen, via Schubert, Chopin, Saint-Saens and Howells, amongst others.

An audience full of parents, staff and friends were moved by the level of maturity and assurance heard in the students’ readings of works on a number of different instruments.

First year Trombone Scholar Chris Walton commented, “The Scholars’ Concert was such a memorable evening. To perform alongside a group of such talented, like-minded musicians was completely inspiring. I can’t wait to see how experiences like this will help me to develop as a musician over the next two years.”

The night also included a world premiere, as second year Composition Scholar Tom Mungall performed his own work entitled Shylock; a programmatic composition for solo piano, inspired by the eponymous Shakespearean anti-hero.

Second year Cello Scholar Catherine Porter said, “This was a fantastic evening. It was lovely to play again with the second year scholars after the summer break, as we’ve come such a long way since last year and it really showed! I was really impressed by the standard and confidence of the first year scholars, as I remember how nerve-racking this first concert is!”

Curriculum Manager for Music, Harry White, commented after the concert, “Tonight has shown us why the College is so proud of its unique scholarship programme.

In partnership with the Royal Academy of Music, Farnborough attracts some of the UK’s finest young musicians from across three counties, drawn together to grow and develop further as musicians. We have all been completely inspired tonight by the quality of all the performances, in particular the maturity of our first year scholars, performing for the very first time. This has been one of the highest standards of opening Scholars’ Concerts in memory and it promises to be another truly exciting year of outstanding music-making at the College.”