On Tuesday 27 June we were delighted to invite pupils from Shiplake Primary, Peppard Primary, Hemdean House, Danesfield Primary and St Mary’s Henley, along with members of the public to join Shiplake College in welcoming the Queen’s Band of the Household Cavalry. This had been a highlight in the school’s calendar for months and it didn’t disappoint. Thank you to Mr Richard Curran for providing the following report on the day’s events.
‘After eight months in the planning the Music Department was thrilled to finally welcome the Queen’s Band of the Household Cavalry to College on Tuesday. With Bandmaster Warrant Officer Class II Ben Ruffer at the helm the band spent the day working on an array of musical arrangements with our woodwind and brass pupils. I was delighted that Queen Anne’s School and Gillotts School took us up on the offer for as many of their woodwind and brass players to come along and learn from such accomplished professional musicians.
After a full morning rehearsing complex works with the band, who were so supportive and encouraging towards the pupils, everyone prepared to give a public performance in what quickly became a packed marquee with such a warm and appreciative audience. Five Primary schools from the locale were first to take their seats followed by the whole of Shiplake College’s pupils and staff and members of the public; it was quite a spectacle.
First on stage was the Funk Collective of the Band of the Household Cavalry, Loosebox, who were joined by our two most accomplished musicians, Quin Wagner-Piggott and Marcus Bagshawe, who looked very comfortable among their more experienced counterparts. Once the full complement was on stage Bandmaster Ruffer weaved through a grand Beatles medley, a beautifully executed arrangement of the Londonderry Air and other impeccably executed works before arriving at the climax in the form of a clever arrangement of the New Star Trek music and original theme.
The rapturous applause from the audience said it all to close the performance. The band’s Director of Music, Captain James Marshall, and I spent a great deal of time over the course of the day talking through plans for the next stage in our firmly established collaboration for next Summer. Watch this space! Thanks to all of the young musicians who took part in the fantastic day of music making. Having spoken to many of them they thoroughly enjoyed working alongside the army musicians and would love to do it all again.’
