Spring Concert fell on Sunday, 3rd April, 2011 which was Mothering Sunday and the start of the College's 60th Anniversary celebrations.
Brass Group, String Orchestra, FAME Quartet, Junior Jazz Band, Flute Choir and Jazz Band all appeared in the first half. The second half started with Concert Band and finished with the specially formed 60th Anniversary Orchestra and College Choirs.
Anna Hoogkamer had the idea of forming an orchestra as part of a GCSE extended project and Mr Day thought this could be linked in with the 60th Anniversary celebrations. The 60th Anniversary Orchestra met over 4 weeks in March to rehearse. The project grew and grew as past students, parents and friends were invited to come and join in the celebrations and increase the numbers involved. The orchestra’s programme for the concert featured The Old Hundredth Psalm Tune first used by Vaughan-Williams for Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953. This continued the 60th Anniversary theme as the Queen is soon to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. This piece was enthusiastically performed by the Orchestra, two Choirs and the audience.
The Concert finished with 3 choruses from Handel’s Messiah including the Hallelujah Chorus. On March 23rd, 1743, King George II was attending the performance of the Messiah. When the Hallelujah Chorus began King George rose. It is unclear why he stood up, he may have been stretching his legs, it is possible that King George, who was partially deaf, mistook the opening notes for the national anthem, or he may have risen to his feet out of respect. No one knows why King George stood but we do know that people around the world still rise to their feet whenever they hear first notes of the Hallelujah Chorus. We continued this tradition at the Spring Concert, if only to achieve a standing ovation at the end!
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