Tonbridge music celebrated at Cadogan Hall

More than a hundred boys from the school took to the stage to perform in a special concert at London’s Cadogan Hall on Friday 19 January.

The concert, Celebrating Tonbridge School Music, showcased the many diverse talents of boys past and present. There were moving performances from an Old Tonbridgian Vocal Group and the Chapel Choir – the latter singing pieces by Parry, Mendelssohn and a work especially composed for the choir by the school’s Composer in Residence, Hywel Davies.

In contrast, members of the cast of this year’s school play, the musical Chess, performed a medley of songs from the production.

The Big Band brought the first half to a rousing finish with several well-known pieces including Blue Skies, Soul Man and It’s Only A Paper Moon. After the interval, the Massed String Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra took their turns in the spotlight.

The Massed String Orchestra performed Arvo Pärt’s Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, while the Symphony Orchestra played the overture from Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet.

Mark Forkgen, Director of Music, said: “It was a fantastic opportunity for Tonbridgians from different eras to make music together, performing such a wide range with dedication and commitment.”

The Headmaster Tim Haynes, who addressed the audience at the start of the show, added: “This unique event gave us the opportunity to celebrate the great and diverse musical talents we have at Tonbridge. It was a magical night that will live long in the memory, and is a memory I will take with me as I move through my final year at the school.”