A Musical Night at the Movies

The WA and School were pleased to welcome over sixty Old Whitgiftians, current parents and staff members, old and new, to the Whitgift Concert Hall on Thursday 26th February for the annual WA Music Soiree.

Film-themed entertainment was provided by pupils, staff and OWs to the extremely high standard we have come to expect. A delicious buffet meal was provided by the ever-impressive School caterer during the interval and a cash bar ensured nobody went thirsty!

The evening was opened by the School’s Soul Choir singing “Oh Happy Day!”, followed by a moving rendition by Lower Sixth Former, Pavan Rao, of the Japanese song, “Hana wa Saku”. International Music Scholars, Hristiyan Hristov (U5), Atanas Yanchev (L6) and Hristo Dunev (U6) impressed with their virtuosic playing of the marimba, piano and violin respectively. They have talent to match, or even surpass many professional players. Watch these guys closely!

Jacob Wilson-Watty (L5) sang Bill Withers’ beautiful “Ain’t No Sunshine” with real emotion and the Senior String Quartet moved us with their playing of the Intermezzo from ‘The Godfather’.

But the highlights were surely the more ‘mature’ performers. WA Chairman, Pip Burley, amused everybody with his performance of the outrageous “Joyce the Librarian”, Director of Orchestral Music, Phil Winter, showed off his jazz talents at the piano and Director of Music Development, Rosie Whitfield, truly wowed the audience with her performance of “Lola”, ably accompanied by the Music Department’s very own “Perky Peacocks”.

Huge thanks must go, as always, to Richard Blundell and the Music Staff who pulled this event together as easily as they tune their instruments: no fuss and with utmost professionalism.

For information about upcoming Whitgift music events, go to www.whitgift.co.uk/events. The “Royal Festival Hall Spectacular” on 26th March is one, in particular, that we recommend you try to get along to.