Summer Concert Scorcher!

Shiplake College’s Summer Concert took place on Wednesday 27 June, in the last week of term. After a brief welcome from Head of Music Mr Richard Curran, the Symphonic Challenge took to the stage.

The group, made up of pupils and staff who started learning an instrument in September, performed Quincy Jones’ Soul Bossa Nova (a.k.a. the Austin Powers theme song). After their first ever performance, they took a bow and made way for the Shiplake Chorus, who sang The Greatest Show from movie of the year, The Greatest Showman. After rapturous applause, Joe Biggin, Finn Suter and Daniel Coles, as The Gurus, performed their original hit The Rain. The boys’ confidence and creativity made for an incredible performance!

The Saxophone Ensemble was up next, performing the familiar theme tune to The Simpsons and Bobby McFerrin’s feel-good classic Don’t Worry, Be Happy. Fronted by Olivia Ferguson, 8+1 put their instruments together to offer up a slice of Bob Marley. Their rendition of Could You Be Loved had the audience swaying in their seats and posed as a fantastic warm-up to the ‘surprise item’ by Headmaster Gregg Davies and Head of College Will Bailey. The opening ‘ba-ba-da-doop-doop’ could only introduce I Wanna Be Like You from Disney classic The Jungle Book. The duet most certainly earned its standing ovation! The Shiplake Community Choir, conducted by Head of Careers Louise Rapple-Moore, served up the last number before the interval. Their medley of songs from Westside Story had the audience clicking and clapping all the way into the half-time refreshments, provided by Thomas Franks Catering.

After nibbles and a glass of something cold, the marquee filled up again, ready for The Lower School Choir, who sang Coldplay’s Hymn For The Weekend, followed by reggae classic Pass The Dutchie, which refers to sharing a patois dish which would feed a whole village…

Next up, a real treat from Year 13 Juan Elkington and soon to be Orchard Housemaster Yona Diez-Urkidi. Together, with Juan on the guitar and Mr Diez-Urkidi on the mic, they performed an original song called La Maddelena in which our Housemaster-to-be found his true calling. His stage presence and dance moves had the audience clapping and singing along to the instant hit. A tough act to follow, undoubtedly, but the Camerata did a fantastic job at covering Robbie Williams’ Angels.

The Covers Band then took to the stage and performed Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police. After a fantastic rendition, The First Eight assembled and what came next amazed the entire audience. They performed a South African song called Tshotsholoza, led by Will Mandondo, whose voice echoed through the marquee, delivering goosebumps all the way to the back of the audience. The incredible performance demanded a well-earned encore at the end of the concert. Beforehand however, the Shiplake Collective, fronted by Jade Miller, performed a hat-trick of quintessential fiesta tunes. Firstly, the chilled classic, Mas Que Nada by Sergio Mendes, followed by São Pãolo by Chic and At The Sign Of The Swinging Cymbal by Brian Fahey.

Darcy Timms and Will Mandondo, both of whom gave fantastic performances throughout the evening, brilliantly hosted the concert and thanked Shiplake College, Headmaster and performer Gregg Davies and Head of Music Mr Curran, for the opportunities they have been given in music.