School Matters 36

15

PVI AND UVI SUMMER SCHOOL

CLASSICAL MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR 2022 More than 45 IPS pupils competed in the School’s most prestigious music competition in a bid to be declared Classical Musician of the Year 2022. After a packed day of heats, parents, pupils and staff gathered in the Theatre to learn who would proceed to the final and be given the chance to perform again and compete for the trophies. We were exceptionally lucky to welcome Ms Olivia Shotton, a singer and conductor and a Fellow at the Royal Academy of Music as our Adjudicator. After a short intermission whilst the judge deliberated, the category winners were announced: The overall winner was Lottie Sanderson, PVI who performed the first movement from Brahms’s Violin Sonata no.3 in D minor. Ms Shotton noted Lottie’s musical maturity, and the attention and care that was given to every single note. Many thanks to all the pupils who were brave enough to enter the event, the staff and parents who supported the concert, our extraordinary team of Visiting Music Teachers who prepared the competitors so well, and to Mr Oliver Chesser for accompanying so expertly. And most of all, thanks to Mrs Fennell for the seamless organisation of this complex day. Mr James Bartlett, Director of Music Piano Wind Alexander Lau, S8 Matilda Allard, S10 Nina Ribeaux, S7 Brooks Finkel, S10 Strings Voice

AUTUMN TERM CONCERT IPS’s first large-scale ensembles’ concert in two years took place in the Theatre with over 100 pupils performing in choirs, bands, jazz groups and various other chamber groups.

The concert began with the IPS Singers St Davids Tour participants performing a rousing rendition of ‘Calon Lan’. The evening proceeded through a most varied programme, from Handel to Duke Ellington. Perhaps the most original performance was that of the Percussion Ensemble, who combined a thumping dance mix with some seriously stylish special effects which truly brought the house down. Some of these ensembles had not performed together for two years, and some were making their debut. Bravo to all involved on a rousing and heartening evening of music-making.

MATILDA WINS LSO PLACE

Congratulations to Music Scholar Matilda Allard, S10 on being awarded a place in the Flute section of the London Schools’ Symphony Orchestra, beating off stiff competition from across the capital. Matilda, winner of the Woodwind category in last year’s IPS Classical Musician of the Year, is also a member of the Junior Royal Academy of Music where she studies Flute and Recorder. Following an intensive period of rehearsals over the Christmas holidays, Matilda joined the flute section of the highly competitive ensemble to perform an electric concert at the Barbican under the baton of Dominic Wheeler. The repertoire ranged from Stravinsky’s Firebird to Strauss’s extraordinary Four Last Songs . Bravo, Matilda.

Matilda Allard, S10

VI PERFORMERS’ PLATFORM This small-scale, informal concert saw some of our A-level musicians dry run their pieces in advance of their upcoming recitals, with LVIs performing one piece and UVIs performing two. First up was Amelie White, who performed across two instruments, demonstrating an enviable contrast of skills and styles. Maddy Hunter treated us to a musical theatre set: pieces from Waitress and Grease . Arthur Mellor rounded out the UVIs’ contribution to the evening with guitar performances of a Muse track alongside one of his own compositions. Arthur was supported by a good deal of technical wizardry of his own devising. Arthur Mellor, UVI

Lottie Sanderson, PVI