The Prospect Theatre was once again packed with an enthusiastic audience who were treated to another magnificent evening of music-making.

In the first half, Chamber Orchestra took us on a tour of works from across the cultural divide, featuring classics from Telemann to Tchaikovsky alongside explosive dances from South America.  In addition to the orchestral numbers, solo performances by Will Hopkins (‘Cello), Fenella Briggs (Flute), Adam Furze (Clarinet) and Max Pemberton (Piano) left the audience wanting more.

The tempo ramped up in the second half with Big Band opening with the theme tune from ‘The Incredibles’.  The audience was also treated to additional foot tappers, such as Van Morrison’s ‘Moondance' and Leonard Bernstein’s ‘Cool’, from West Side Story.

The College Jazz Ensemble, ‘Just in Time’ performed two numbers; ‘Take Five’ and ‘Sandu’.  Bassist with the ensemble, Adam Deedman, expressed how much he enjoyed the experience. “It was a fantastic opportunity and a fitting end to all the hard work we have put in throughout the year.  It was a truly special evening featuring an eclectic range of music, showing off the sheer talent of musicians at the College.”

Ben Dowsett, Curriculum Manager for music commented, “I was very proud of the students performing some very challenging repertoire with great aplomb. There were a couple of notable ‘firsts’ for the evening, a fantastic solo vocal performance from Ed Lee with the Big Band singing ‘Save the Last Dance for Me’ and the combining of a string section with Big Band in ‘Feeling Good’, with Molly Beere on vocals.”

Big Band concluded the evening with a set that included Dave Brubeck’s ‘Blue Rondo a la Turk’ and Lennon and McCartney’s ‘Day Tripper’.  Second year student and Saxophone soloist in ‘Blue Rondo’ Emily Preece said, “I had such a wonderful time performing with Big Band at this concert. Having the opportunity to play a solo at my final concert at College is something I’m very grateful for and will stay with me forever.”

In summing up, Curriculum Manager for music performance and Chamber Orchestra conductor Harry White said, “The College's Big Band and Chamber Orchestra concerts are always a highlight in the music department’s calendar. Few other institutions in the country can boast such musical talent, performing a wide ranging repertoire to such a high standard. It was a true celebration of the joys of music-making in this department and, once again, we were left in awe of the commitment and talent on show by these wonderful musicians”