Winter Concert 2018

Last Thursday evening saw an audience of over 400 settle in to the Sports Hall for the annual Winter Concert, with performances from staff, pupils and the Community Choir.

Head of Music Mr Curran welcomed parents, grandparents, pupils, staff, governors and members of the local community to the 2018 Winter Concert, and announced the evening's comperes Will Mandondo and Ellen Hodson, who skillfully introduced each performance. Up first was the Shiplake Collective, who put their instruments together to perform the theme tune of The Pink Panther and Paul Murtha’s Christmas Island. Mrs Rapple Moore’s Community Choir came next, with what was introduced as something ‘with an unusually African sound’. The fifty-strong Choir performed Karl Jenkins’ Adiemus and built it up and up and up until it came to a beautiful climax.

Something more festive came next as the Saxophone Ensemble performed Felix Mendelssohn’s Hark, The Herald Angels Sing; led by brass and woodwind peripatetic teacher Mr Gary Branch. Among the Saxophone Ensemble was Head Boy Josh Howard.

A real feel-good came next from the Shiplake Chorus, as pupils and staff, including Headmaster Mr Davies, came together to sing a beautiful rendition of Instruments of Peace by Kirk Dearman, followed by an upbeat It’s Alright by Huey Lewis and The News, which saw Tom Stuart wow the audience with a stunning solo part.

Next came a tribute to The Beatles as Charlie Thomas, Ben Atkin, Jack Parrott and Tom Mythen joined together to create 'The Trax'. They brilliantly performed Paperback Writer and Drive My Car with the enthusiasm and confidence they will need to go far in the music industry. Following this excitement, the Camerata sobered the audience with a stunning rendition of Fanshawe’s The Lord’s Prayer.

Another promising group, Max Gardiner and Ewan Pratt of Year 8, and Milo Griffiths and Alex Wilson of Year 9 played together as ‘The Underdogs’, who brought The Script’s Break Even to life and did perhaps a better job than the original artists! Never to disappoint, The First Eight covered Ed Sheeran’s Perfect, and with a verse sung in flawless Italian by Patrick Kenny, the song was indeed perfect.

Another one to impress was Charlie Thomas and the BTEC Super Group, who sang Aha’s Take On Me. Yes, even those high notes! They did a fantastic job and paved the way for the Lower School Choir, who closed the show with The Rembrandts’ I’ll Be There For You, a.k.a. the theme tune to Friends.

Following the wonderful Winter Concert, Headmaster Mr Gregg Davies addressed the audience and told the 400-strong audience that this event made him think strongly about whether he could leave Shiplake and its culture behind. Mr Davies has attended every Winter Concert in his 14 years here.

A big thank you to Mr Curran, Mr Jones, Mr Ward and Mr Slade for organising yet another fabulous Winter Concert. Also, very well done to everybody who performed so fantastically well!