“Tonight shows that if you want to enjoy music, you need to come to Shiplake!” These were the words of the Headmaster following another exceptional Winter Concert last week. Over half of the school population took the stage in the sports hall, producing high quality music across a range of genres including Christmas classics, film soundtracks and contemporary hits.
The show was opened by the Lower School Orchestra. Their version of Here Comes Santa Claus was arguably the best ever Lower School concert performance, despite most of the boys only having played their instrument for a few months. This proved that only knowing how to play two or three notes is not necessarily a constraint, so long as they are played well. The Senior Orchestra were up next with Dambusters and James Bond theme tune Skyfall. The Headmaster described the orchestra’s impressive display as “five years in the making” and has high hopes for what can be achieved in the future.
The Shiplake Community Choir are invited to every College music concert, and as always they did not disappoint with an upbeat and energetic Beach Boys medley, including I Get Around and In My Room. The choir is one of the most popular in the local area, with members filling the stage in number and filling the room with their voices.
The next performance brought a stark contrast with only three musicians performing. Year 11 guitar players Ben Drage, Adam Fletcher and Sebastian Rivett tackled a complicated version of Californication, not only faced with mastering the melody but also tapping out the rhythm on their instruments. They achieved this with great esteem and the feedback available from the sound recording studio will no doubt help them to improve further in the future. Later in the evening, a string ensemble of Cameron Bell, Henry Blois-Broke, Charlotte Scales, Joseph Perry, Thomas Nike and Ieuan Thomas joined Mr Ham on stage for a highly accomplished rendition of the theme tune from Pirates of the Caribbean. The performers were noticeably relaxed and hit the notes perfectly.
The Headmaster took great pleasure in joining the Chamber and Rock choirs in their performances of A Child is Born in Bethlehem and a Sing/Rather Be medley. The song choices demonstrated the diversity of music covered by the Music Department, with the Ed Sheeran and Clean Bandit hits charting earlier this year. The Rock Choir’s ranks have been boosted this term after the Headmaster overheard Hugo Warner singing along to the music channel in Welsh House. After asking each subsequent member to bring a ‘plus one’, the vast majority of Year 11 pupils in the house soon found themselves at choir practice.
The entire Lower School returned to the stage, this time armed only with their voices. Soloists Patrick Kenny, George Lucas, Elliott Richards, Charlie Thomas and the rest of the boys enjoyed singing Somewhere Only We Know by Keane, accompanied superbly by Will Kidd on the piano.
The audience were royally entertained throughout the evening, with three of the best acts being saved until the end. The Clarinet Quartet treated guests to the same recital which recently earned them a silver medal at Marlow Festival. In the Bleak Midwinter was expertly arranged by Mr Ham, who deserves credit along with all the music staff.
A few eyebrows were raised when Director of Music Mr Jones announced that the 1st VIII would be next on stage. The rowers’ sudden panic dissipated quickly as they learned this was referring to Shiplake’s senior accappella vocal group. Lead vocalist Jordan Gibson stole the show as the group performed Avicii’s Wake Me Up, consistently nailing their harmonies. The Headmaster described the song as a “Henley Friday performance”, challenging the school’s Boat Club to match this in July next year.
The concert ended on a high with the Covers Band’s version of Baby It’s Cold Outside. The duet by Ruaridh Sheppard and Rebecca Robinson earned a rapturous reception from the crowd, who then made their way to the Great Hall for mince pies and mulled wine. After such a lovley display of musical talent, we are very much looking to the College carol service on Tuesday 16 December.
To view more photos from the concert, please visit our media gallery by clicking on the camera icon at the bottom of the menu.
