On Monday evening Thomas Mills High School & Sixth Form hosted a Gala Concert at Snape Maltings Concert Hall to mark our 45th anniversary.
The concert was an incredible event and saw Ed Sheeran perform his global hit, Perfect Symphony, with the school orchestra. During the evening we enjoyed a range of performances from alumni and pupils including choirs, orchestral pieces, piano solos, jazz and contemporary music.
80 former pupils and staff returned especially for the concert which featured a piano solo from alumni Beatrice Nichols who performed Three Preludes by Gershwin and an organ solo by fellow alumni William Saunders of Voices of the World by Iain Farrington.
Alumni commissioned piece – Awake, Sweet Season
A special commissioned piece Awake, Sweet Season by Laurie Chapman delighted the audience at the end of the first half. Laurie told us ahead of the concert: ‘I was delighted to be asked to write a piece for the Thomas Mills High School & Sixth Form 45th Anniversary Gala Concert. The opportunity to write for orchestra and choir is always an exciting prospect for any composer. Added to this was the challenge that there would be time for only one full rehearsal with the returning alumni and that the first performance would take place in the concert hall founded by Benjamin Britten. I hope my efforts have lived up to both the occasion and the venue.”
Laurie continued: “The piece begins with a hushed choir singing the opening of Henry Howard’s poem which describes spring as “soote” (sweet). Gradually, a combination of different motifs builds to a loud orchestral chord, and what I’ve called the ‘summer theme’ arrives scored for the whole ensemble. Various soloists then take the theme and perform a series of cadenza-like passages before the choir returns, again quietly. There is another orchestral tutti build up and finally the ‘summer theme’ returns, but this time in a new key. I very hope that you enjoy it.”
Gala Concert Programme
The 1st Half
Celebration Choir and Orchestra
I was Glad
Parry arr. Lawson
Junior Choir
Director: Anna Ducker
Here Comes the Sun
Beatles arr. Podd Brothers
Handbells
Director: John Bayle
Bitter Sweet Symphony
The Verve
Flute Choir
Director: Debbie Rogers
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Mozart
2nd Orchestra
Egmont Overture
Beethoven arr. Mayer
Alumni Piano Solo
Beatrice Nicholas
Three Preludes
– No.1 in B-Flat Major,
– No.2 in C-Sharp Minor,
– No.3 in E-Flat Major,
Gershwin
Cello Ensemble
Director: Gretel Dowdeswell
Waltz from Jazz Suite No 2
Shostakovitch
The Knighties
Director: Rebecca Knight
White Winter Hymnal
Pecknold
Wind Ensemble
Disney Around the Bandroom
arr. Vinson
Jazz Group
Director: Will Rogers
Star Wars Medley
Williams arr. Strommen and Rogers
Celebration Choir and Orchestra
Alumni commissioned piece
Awake, Sweet Season
Chapman
The 2nd Half
Aisle 4
I can’t wait
Aisle 4
Vinten Voices
Director: Pam Vinten Phipps
Rhythm of Life from Sweet Charity
Fields and Coleman
String Group
Director: Cal Fell
Palladio
Karl Jenkins arr. Ixchel C and Santi T
Chamber Choir
Director: Anna Ducker
The Lord bless you and keep you
Rutter
Hulland Quartet
Black Eyes
Trad arr. Peter Martin
Alumni Organ Solo
William Saunders
Voices of the World
Iain Farrington
Senior Choir
Director: Anna Ducker
Defying Gravity
Schwartz arr. Brymer
Alumni Solo with 1st Orchestra
Ed Sheeran
Perfect Symphony
Ed Sheeran and Matthew Sheeran
Everyone
God Moves in a Mysterious Way from St Nicolas
Britten
The concert at the renowned Snape Maltings Concert Hall, established by Benjamin Britten, was led and conducted for the last time by Director of Music, Richard Hanley, who is retiring after 36 years at the school this summer.
A video recording from the event will be made available in the next few weeks.