From Mozart to Earth Song: Lower School Concert impresses with its versatility

More than 70 of the School’s young musicians took part in the Lower School Concert on Friday 3 May.

The School Orchestra, Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble, Junior Strings and Kreisler Quartet featured in an hour-long, versatile programme, tackled with great spirit and commitment by those in their First, Second and Third years.

Staged in the School Chapel, the concert was well attended by parents, staff, family and friends.

Performances ranged from classical pieces such as Delibes’ March and Procession of Bacchus and Mozart’s String Quartet No.6 in B flat to iconic numbers by Gershwin (Summertime), Cole Porter (Anything Goes) and Michael Jackson (Earth Song).

Following chamber music from Haydn, performed by the Kreisler Quartet, the School Orchestra provided the finale with pieces by Vaughan Williams (English Folk Song Suite) and Saint-Saëns (Danse Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah).

Mr Forkgen, Director of Music, said: “Every group has made a most impressive leap in skill and creativity in recent months. It was lovely to see such a range of music-making on display.”

Earth Song was specially arranged by Tony Maloney, who is retiring after 50 years as a Visiting Music Teacher at Tonbridge and received a standing ovation following his farewell speech.

Mr Forkgen added: “Tony has played a key part in our concerts over the years and arranged much of the material for the Percussion Ensemble. We owe him an enormous amount of thanks. His poignant arrangement of Earth Song was extremely moving and reinforced its message.”