YOUNG TALENT SHINES AT THE DORKING HALLS

Reigate Grammar School’s annual orchestral and choral concert at The Dorking Halls was as enjoyable as ever.  Inspirational and polished performances across a range of music genres proved that music at the school continues to go from strength to strength.  

The RGS Concert Band started toes tapping from the top of the programme with a medley of Stevie Wonder’s hits. They were ably followed by the Intermediate String Orchestra’s performance of Gershwin’s Summertime and the ever-popular Theme from The Simpsons.

Michael Maddocks’ superb solo performance of Trumpet Concert in Eb (Neruda), accompanied by the Senior String players, generated much applause from the audience, as did the ever-popular RGS Swing Band’s trio of Getaway (Cor/Taylor, arr. Murtha); Send in the Clowns (Sondheim, arr.Wolpe) and Respect (Redding, arr. Murtha).

A breath-taking solo from 18 year old pianist Bethany Johnson (Saint-Saens’ Piano Concerto No.2 in G minor) accompanied by the school’s Symphony Orchestra, saw the audience raised to their feet in appreciation of a performance that will last long in everyone’s memory. 

One of the delights of attending the annual concert through the years is watching the youngest musicians progress through the ranks, graduating from already strong performances in Concert Band 2, Junior Voices and the Intermediate String Orchestra to take hard-won places in the Symphony Orchestra and senior groups.  This year’s programme brought together the youngest and oldest to brilliant effect not least by the joining of the Junior Boys’ Voices with RGS Barbershop to sing The Lord is my Shepherd (Schubert). 

Featuring the widest age span of the evening was the choral finale which combined 120 voices from across Junior Girls’ Voices, RGS Singers and the Community Choir, together with the Symphony Orchestra, to perform Handel’s Chorus of Enchanted Islanders (from Alcina); Mozart’s Voyagers’ Chorus (from Idomeneo); Rossini’s Villagers’ Chorus (from William Tell) Verdi’s Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (from Nabucco) and Bizet’s March of the Toreadors (from Carmen).The Symphony Orchestra was led by Rebecca Morrison and Wakana Yasuda and conducted by Mr Simon Rushby.

Now in its ninth year, the annual Dorking Halls Concert remains the highlight of the RGS musical year. Testament to the high regard in which the concert is held was the large number of alumni, many now studying music, who returned to support the event.

To view a photogallery of The Dorking Halls Concert please click here.