THE passion, skill and dedication conveyed by students in our Senior Instrumental Music Festival Finalists’ Concert yesterday evening (February 10th) was phenomenal!
The festival is a firm favourite on the King’s Ely music events calendar, and instrumentalists in Years 9-13 competed in twelve different classes, held between January 17th and February 1st.
The competition was fierce, with so many students deserving a place to perform in Ely Cathedral. But it was Anna Ost, Thomas Allen, James Schoenberg, Lauren Booth, Lauren Peck, William Kirkup, James Wilkinson, Samuel Trueman, Eleanor MacGillivray and Maxime Prince, who made it through to the finals.
The concert took place in the intimate South Transept of the Cathedral and we were delighted to welcome Richard Pinel MA, Fellow and Director of Music at Jesus College, Cambridge, as our adjudicator for the evening.
Every student performed to an impeccable standard – Maxime on percussion, Lauren Booth on flute, William on trumpet, Anna on cello, Samuel on piano, Thomas on organ and violin, James Schoenberg on electric guitar, James Wilkinson on trombone, Eleanor on piano, and Lauren Peck on saxophone.
It was wonderful to hear our cello group, Spikes; Flute Duet and Piano, Sophie Hillier, Lauren Booth and Sayuri Okunushi; and Piano Trio, Samuel Trueman, Lauren Booth and Lily McCallum, performing too.
After much deliberation, Mr Pinel announced Samuel Trueman as the winner of the Hunter Cup for Intermediate Piano and the Intermediate Instrumentalist of the Year (Walser Cup).
Lauren Peck won Senior Instrumentalist of the Year (Walser Trophy).
Jonathan Shaw, Head of King’s Ely Senior, said: “The concert was a fitting way to end this half term. I continue to be in awe of the quality of our musicians; the standard of all the performances was exceptional. Well done to everyone who performed and thank you to the Music Department for organising such a fantastic evening.“