Oundle450 Birmingham Concert
View galleries of images from the concert here.
In the striking surroundings of Birmingham Symphony Hall, a 2000-strong audience enjoyed an amazing collection of choral and orchestral music on Tuesday 21st March. As the first event in the 450th anniversary year to involve all the constituent parts of the School, the concert represented a significant occasion, and one which will last in the memories of all who were present.
Playing to current pupils and OOs, teaching and non-teaching staff, parents, Governors and invited guests, more than 300 musicians took to the stage throughout the afternoon to perform pieces by Holst, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky, to name but a few. The Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah saw the School choir joined by scores of pupils and staff as a rousing end to the first half, which also featured the Wind Orchestra and Bagpipe ensemble performing Highland Cathedral by Roever and Korb, a striking piece in an already impressive programme.
The second half included jazz pieces by the OSJO, and ended with a Last Night of the Proms theme, in which in true promenade style, the whole audience participated. Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No.1 and the grand finale of Jerusalem brought to a close an event which in both scale and quality made clear the extent of Oundle's musical tradition.
A simplified version of the programme is available here.
It is hoped that both a CD and a DVD of the concert will be available in due
course (see order form now released.)