Music at New Hall Preparatory School
Auditions for Easter Concert
Mrs Conrad would like to thank everyone who auditioned for a part in the Key Stage 2 Easter Concert. Those children selected to perform have been give a letter to take home to their parents today. Some of the children who did particularly well in auditions but were not given a part will be asked to play at an assembly during the next few months.
National Festival of Music for Youth
Last Saturday, the Chamber Choir took part in the regional round of the National Festival of Music for Youth. This is the largest music festival in the world and consists of many different categories. There was a very exciting and vibrant atmosphere as we listened to an eclectic mix of music making, including a Gospel Choir and a contemporary music group performing music about Anne Frank’s Diary. Our children gave a magnificent performance of two contrasting songs and were commended for their “expressive detail” and “careful phrasing”. The adjudicators described the choir as “a group of potential” so we await to see if we have made it through to the next round where we would be invited to compete nationally at the Birmingham Symphony Hall! Watch this space!!!
CHAMBER CHOIR WIN AT CHELMSFORD FESTIVAL OF MUSIC AND DRAMA
Year 5 and 6 children in New Hall Preparatory School’s Chamber Choir were delighted last Friday, 17 November, when they won the St Cedd’s Trophy in the Chelmsford Festival of Music and Drama. Four choirs were competing in the category for Best Junior Choir aged 12 years and under and the standard was very high. New Hall’s Chamber Choir began with a lively rendition of “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” which was then followed by a moving performance of the beautiful song, “We are the Future”.
The adjudicator, Peter Cross, was impressed by the children’s tonal quality as well as by their overall performance and noted, “Everyone looks like they are enjoying themselves”! He particularly liked the way the New Hall Choir captured the mood of both pieces and sang with a good sense of phrasing and dynamics.
Being awarded 90 points won New Hall the competition and put them in the highest point category of the Festival. Mrs Sarah Conrad, Deputy Head and Director of Music at New Hall Preparatory School, commented, “The children have only been singing together as a choir for just over a year so this is a tremendous achievement for them. I am very proud of how hard they have worked and we are all extremely excited about the future!”
Music plays an important part in the life of the school and children are encouraged to join an excellent choir and orchestra.
