The Sports Hall was alive with the sound of music at the end of November as the Music Department's busy festive period kicked off with the Winter Concert. Over 170 performers from across the year groups were involved and there was something to suit every musical taste.
The Big Band opened the evening with a joyful rendition of the theme from the TV programme Family Guy, quickly moving into Home for the Holidays which included an impressive saxophone solo from Leo Slowikowski (Year 12). A new 'first' for Shiplake was the Lower School performance which includes every member of Year 7 and 8, including of course the first cohort of Year 7 girls. This inclusive choir has gone from around 50 boys a decade ago, to what would have been 99 girls and boys on the stage, with the audience enjoying their performance of The Greatest Showman Medley, and well done to those who had solo parts.
The Woodwind Ensemble performed Mel Torme's The Christmas Song, before the first of the evening's six bands, Blumfield 5, took to the stage. Grace McKean (Year 12) fronted Georgy Porgy by Toto before being joined by Leo Guo (Year 13) for Marvin Gaye's Ain't No Mountain High Enough. Leo then performed two songs in Chinese with Retro Beats, and Noah Scotchbrook (Year 13) then arguably broke everyone's Whamageddon before it had even started with Last Christmas with the B14 band. Grace McKean returned with Phunkadelics to perform Earth, Wind and Fire's September, arranged by Leo Slowikowski to include parts for saxophone and trumpet.
Charles Peng in Year 9 then demonstrated his phenomenal piano skills with Chopin's Nocturne No. 20 in C Sharp Minor, followed by the Camerata performing Seasons of Love from the musical Rent. The band Plus 1 then took to the stage with Grace McKean singing the iconic Christmas tune, All I Want for Christmas Is You, assisted by some Lower School pupils on sleigh bells! The Chorus continued the festive tunes with John Rutter's beautiful Christmas Lullaby before ramping up the energy further with a fantastic rendition of The Beatles' Blackbird.
To close the evening Rare Groove performed, with Noah Scotchbrook leading Dusty Springfield's Spooky and Jack Dag (Year 10) fronting This Christmas by Donna Hathway. Well done to all involved and a big thank you to senior Music Captains, Noah Scotchbrook and Darcey Knight who hosted the evening and introduced each performance.
