News: Music
The festive season at St Joseph\'s School began on Thursday 24th November with an wonderful music concert. Pupils performed beautifully with the Orchestra opening the evening. This was followed by a number of solo performers and performances by the Gospel Choir, Canzonetta and the Wind Band.
The evening finished with mulled wine, supper and a raffle. Money raised on the evening totalled £201.50 which will go towards a new piano.
Thanks go to the Music Teachers and Pupils for a wonderful evening.
After a painfully early morning start from Launceston the journey to our hotel, Da Bepi, in Lido di Jesolo via Gatwick and Bologna went smoothly and the eagerly anticipated summer Choir tour to Venice was finally underway. Lido di Jesolo is a resort on the Adriatic coast fringing Venice’s lagoon, a boat ride away from Venice, with 14 km of safe sandy beaches. Our family-run hotel was not only close to the beach but also to the town centre and the shops – vital, as out first essential task was to find lunch. Rheinhard, our tour guide, had stayed there before and with his fluent Italian ensured that we were comfortable and well looked after. Breakfasts were buffet style with the usual continental cornflakes, fruit and bread and in the evenings a three course meal starting with pasta (why does it always taste so much better in Italy?). Lunch time eating was more adventurous and involved ingenuity as it involved local foraging armed with the ration of Euros from the ‘bank’.
Next morning we had time to relax on the beach before travelling to Marostica in the foothills of the Italian Alps for an evening concert. There was time to explore the medieval town famed for its gatehouse and walls which encompass a centre square floored by a human sized chess board and to sample the ice cream. Despite the threat of a shower the evening was calm. The open-air concert was set in a small courtyard, Scalinata dei Carmini, where the acoustics were quite stunning. The hour long concert included items from the whole choir and from individuals which were warmly applauded by the audience that steadily grew in numbers during the concert. The hospitality of our hosts after the concert was appreciated by all.
Wednesday was Venice day. An early breakfast and an equally early coach journey took us to our boat at Punta Sabbioni for a tour of the waterways of the Venetian lagoon. It was incongruous to be followed up a narrow channel by a towering ocean-going cruise liner heading for the docks. Arriving at Pizzale Roma (Bus station!) we transferred to four small water taxis for a fantastic trip down the Grand Canal. Arriving at St Mark’s Square, we were led by our expert guides, Mr & Mrs Mann, to the Rialto Bridge where, in our normal groups, we partook in the enjoyable ancient art of wandering and shopping in the busy, but safe, streets of central Venice. All too quickly it was back to the boat for the trip across the lagoon to our hotel. Our concert in the evening was just a few blocks away from the hotel in a central square in Lido di Jesolo. Unusually it rained. Luckily the choir were set up in a bandstand which provided shelter and despite the torrential downpour the concert was enjoyed by a large number of locals and tourists, all sporting umbrellas and the group of parents camped out in the nearest café. Lily Robinson’s song containing the words ‘Don’t leave me out in the pouring rain’ took on a very real significance. ‘I don’t think I have enjoyed a concert so much,’ was the general consensus of opinion.
Thursday was Aqualandia day. Aqualandia is reputed to be the largest water park in Europe and it certainly lived up to its reputation. There was something for everyone. Those who wanted to climbed the towers, to whizz down the long, steep and curvy water slides, whilst others, and I include most of the staff in this group, enjoyed the gentle (and the not so gentle) waves in the very large swimming area. Ice creams were mandatory as was the sun screen!
Friday was again a Venice day. After yet another early breakfast it was off to our chartered boat for a tour of the islands of Murano and Burano in the lagoon. Burano is an extremely quaint fishing village characterised by its lace making and brightly painted houses. It was a delight to wander along the streets in the warm Mediterranean sunshine. Murano is famous for its glass making and we were able to see a demonstration of the glassblower’s intricate art in one of the factories. During the afternoon we were again let loose in Venice to shop and wander at will before meeting up for the highlight of out trip. We had the privilege of being able to participate in the Evening Mass at the magnificent Basilica San Marco. The choir performed to perfection with their unaccompanied choral singing during the service befitting the occasion and the setting. This was a wonderful moment for all those who were there. The magic continued afterwards as we travelled back across the lagoon, to Punta Sabbioni, with the sun setting in red and gold over Venice.
An early start on Saturday saw us retrace our footsteps to Launceston. Thanks to Rheinhard, our Tour Manager and Rayburn tours we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Venice. Yet again Mrs Mann, aided and abetted by her team, had planned a Choir trip that everyone, pupils, staff and parents thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated. Thank you!
Dr Alan Doe
Members of the Senior Chamber Choir have already had an amazing start to their 2011 concert season. The first concert of 2011 was to celebrate the opening of the newly refurbished Town Hall where the choir shared the platform with the Town Band, LADS, the Launceston Male Voice Choir together with two professional singers: Darren Jeffery and Shelley Coulter-Smith.
More recently, the choir entertained a well and truly packed Victory Hall at Lewdown. The audience there was treated to a musical feast from the choir and orchestra, as well as some wonderful solo performances from Bethany Hulme-Teague, Naomi Gillies, Lily Robinson, Amy Marks and Penny Tilsley.
Canzonetta was privileged to be invited to sing at the opening of the Town Hall by HRH the Duchess of Cornwall and the girls were really excited when her HRH came up onto the stage and chatted with them about their experiences at the School Prom in the Royal Albert Hall last November.
The Chamber Choir took part in a concert last week with the Triggshire Wind Orchestra, raising funds once more for Macmillan Cancer Support. This is the second time both groups have worked together for this charity. The audience was clearly delighted with the amount of talent on display by both groups and planning is already in hand for their next joint venture.
As always, very many thanks to all those parents and staff who have come and supported the choir at their various concerts. Thank you too, to all those who have helped by transporting car-loads of children to and from concerts – and have either fed them between school and the event or have invited them to stay over night. We wouldn’t be able to put on these concerts for charity without your help and support.
At our concert in aid of the Children’s Hospice South West last June, Area co-ordinator, Judy Pride suggested that the Senior Chamber Choir might like to be involved with the annual Christmas Carol Concert at Dingles Heritage Fairground Centre in aid of the CHSW. The choir gladly accepted the invitation and had a fun-filled afternoon, sampling all the rides at the fairground for free, including the Ghost Train and the Dodgems before entertaining the audience with several pieces from their Christmas repertoire. The congregational carols were accompanied by the Holsworthy Silver Band, and over £1,677 was raised for the CHSW. Many thanks to all those in the choir who were able to make it to Dingles. It made a fantastic end to the term - and so successful was it that we’ve been invited back next year!
St Joseph’s Senior Chamber Choir have been invited by the Mayor of Launceston to perform at the Opening of the newly refurbished Launceston Town Hall on Saturday 29th January at 7.30pm. Below are the Choir performing at the Whiteford Music Festival.
Pictured above are Canzonetta performing at the Royal Albert Hall School Proms on Monday 8th November 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/tomserviceblog/2010/nov/10/schools-prom-politicians-tom-service
Following on from their resounding success at the National Festival of Music for Youth in Birmingham in July, when the girls were awarded the Senior Choir Performance Award sponsored by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, for their outstanding technical and musical performance, Canzonetta has been selected from the very elite group of top Perfomers at the National Festival, to sing at the Schools Prom.
Just 15 groups have been invited to perform on the opening night of the Schools Prom at the Royal Albert Hall, London on Monday, 7th November. Music for Youth has asked Canzonetta to perform two pieces The Water of Tyne and Full Fathom Five.
In addition to their own performance, Music for Youth has invited Canzonetta to sing a piece specially commissioned by the BBC, written by the winner of the BBC Young Composer of the Year Award and composed specifically for Canzonetta. The 18-part piece (a real challenge as there are only 18 girls in the choir), will be recorded by the BBC at the Schools Prom.
For more details on the Schools Prom, please visit www.mfy.org.uk or visit www.royalalberthall.com
A highlight of the summer for the Chamber Choir was a performance in July at the Whiteford Music Festival. The choir was one of the main features of a fabulous Orchestral Proms night and shared the stage with the Radio Light Orchestra and the wonderful baritone Darren Jeffrey.
This sell-out concert was witnessed by just short of 1,000 people as they picnicked in the park and enjoyed the spectacle.
The festival is staged in a magnificent arched auditorium, set within beautiful parkland and is on a scale seldom witnessed by the girls in previous concerts, so there were some nerves in the hours leading up to the performance.
However, in true St Joseph’s style, they all rose the occasion in a simply outstanding performance. So successful was the performance that the school received several messages of congratulations in the days that followed.
Afterwards Mrs Mann said “We knew it was going to be OK after the first song; I brought them off on a loud note and we could hear the amplified sound still ringing around! We all had a really great time - and what a fantastic experience for the girls.”
Well done to everyone who took part in an event that will remain in the memory for a long time to come.
For more information about the Whiteford Music Festival visit http://whitefordfestival.co.uk/performers_stjosephs.php
The musicians of the Senior school have had a very busy time over the past term.The summer season began with the ever-popular Music for a Summer Evening, in which our most experienced soloists had a chance to perform to an appreciative audience. Highlights as ever, were performances of the girl’s GCSE compositions, and this year was no exception. Heather Sampson’s Remember, for SSA choir and Polarity for clarinet and piano, together with Josie Kane’s Cascades and Contrasts, were stunning -and would not have been out of place at an ‘A’ level performance evening. Our soloists in our two private pupils’ concerts (Years 7 and 8, and Years 9 –11), were also every well received and over £96 was raised at these two concerts for our ‘Piano Appeal’.Members of Cantabile and Canzonetta enjoyed a day at the Royal Cornwall Show… and managed to gridlock the area by the School stand several times as they gave performances of their most popular pieces. This was swiftly followed a day later by a concert at Altarnon church (so much warmer this time round!) in which over £400 was raised for the local church, and last week saw our annual concert in aid of the Children’s Hospice South West. We were delighted to welcome Judy Pride, the CHSW area coordinator to our concert this year. The Chamber Choir as always, excelled themselves, and Canzonetta had a chance to perform their pieces before their appearance at the National Festival in Birmingham. During this concerts – also our Leavers’ Concert,we thanked our superb outgoing Head Chorister (Josie Kane) and her Team (Natasha Routly, Amy Marks and Anna Tetley) and welcomed our new Leaders for 2010/2011: Head Chorister – Grace Waterhouse, Deputy Head Chorister – Abi Logg and our new Team Leaders – Bethany Hulme-Teague, Amy Marks and Mary-Ann Screech.
Team Leaders – Bethany Hulme-Teague, Amy Marks and Mary-Ann Screech. Our soloists were also fantastic in both the Altanon and CHSW concerts and deserve a mention: Bethany Hulme-Teague, Lily Robinson, Heather Sampson, Josie Kane, Penny Tilsley, Estelle Langthorne, Katy Benyon, Grace Waterhouse and Abi Logg.
Although it’s nearly the end of term, we still have performances at the National Choral Festival, the Launceston Show and the Whiteford Festival to come – no doubt this concert on Saturday, 17th July, will be a highlight for another extremely successful year for the Senior Chamber Choir in which over £3,000 has been raised for local charities and churches. Very well done, everyone - and many thanks too, to all the parents who have made it possible for the girls to attend these concerts this season.
Senior Chamber Choir raises £2,175 in one week!
The Senior Chamber Choir has been very busy over the past week and has raised a staggering amount for charity and a local church. The first concert of the season saw the choir ‘in concert’ with the Plymouth Area Police Choir and as always, was tremendous fun! Singing to a full house at Central Methodist Church, the choirs complemented each other superbly and joined forces to sing Jerusalem, Let there be peace on Earth and Morte Christe. £1,750 was raised for Cancer Research UK which was a great achievement for an evening’s work.
The second concert, a week later in Tresparrett Methodist Church, saw the choir in fine voice again, this time ably supported by soloists Kate Marks, Bethany Hulme-Teague, Natasha Routly, Josie Kane and Lily Robinson. The acoustic in the church was fantastic; we welcomed Alice Waterhouse and Ellie Robertson back into the choir; we were served a sumptuous feast afterwards and raised £425 for church funds. What more could any choir want?! Many thanks once again to all the girls for their extremely hard work, and to the parents for all their support and commitment too.
Many of you will no doubt have seen the Senior Chamber Choir perform on BBC Spotlight in the days leading up to Christmas. You may even have seen us on The Big Screen in Plymouth during late night shopping prior to Christmas! We had been invited to record some of the music we had been preparing for our Carol Service and on the day before the end of term, we went to the church of St Peter and the Holy Apostles in Plymouth to take part in the recording session. What an amazing church – and what an acoustic! We had the most fantastic time exploiting this acoustic to our advantage and wallowing in the beautiful sound reverberating around the church. Following run-throughs for sound and camera positions, we recorded a number of carols – The Holly and the Ivy, Away in a manger, Fanfare and A Coventry Carol. We also recorded Let there be peace on earth with the Plymouth Area Police Choir with whom we have sung on many occasions – our next being at Central Methodist Church, Launceston on Friday, 5th March. Without a doubt, this was a fantastic experience for the girls and one which they will remember for many years to come: the excitement of the cameras and the experience of recording, the friendliness of all the BBC staff and the amazing acoustic all made a wonderful and memorable impression upon all of us.
Many congratulations to the girls who have just passed their Royal School of Church Music Dean’s and Bishop’s Awards. The following were all successful in the ‘Dean’s Award’: Holly Macartney-Filgate; Freddie Bowden, Abi Logg, Mary-Ann Screech, and Penny Tilsley all passed with Merit, whilst Bethany Hulme-Teague, Amy Marks and Grace Waterhouse, passed with Distinction.
The following girls were successful in the prestigious ‘Bishop’s Award, Natasha Routly: Josie Kane and Heather Sampson both passed with Distinction. The eleven girls were presented with their distinctive green and purple ribbons by the Dean and Bishop at a special service held at Truro Cathedral. Not only did the girls have to prepare up to four pieces of music to sing, perform aural and sight-singing tests, but they had to undertake a rigorous viva-voce exam and had to answer questions on the Church’s calendar, liturgy, suitable music for the different services and seasons within the church, compare, contrast and analyse anthems and discuss their musical experience and contribution within the choir too – no mean feat! Well done to them all.
Well Done to St Joseph’s students who took Associated Board of the Royal School of Music exams in piano and singing, about a week after the summer term had ended. Lily Robinson was required to act as well as sing in her Music Theatre exam for the London College of Music. Despite a very hectic schedule at the end of last term, quality preparation time was found enabling all the candidates to be successful. Their teachers Mrs Jones and Mrs Barclay congratulate the following:
YR 6 Zola Courtney-Bridgey Pianoforte Grade 3Distinction
Rosie Hellyar Pianoforte Grade 1 Merit
YR 7 Summer Dunscombe Pianoforte Grade 2 Merit
YR 8 Elizabeth Maunder Singing Grade 3 Pass
Lucy Jones Singing Grade 2 Merit
YR 9 Florence Pillman Singing Grade 4 Distinction
Lorna Marshall Singing Grade 1 Distinction
YR 10 Lily Robinson Music Theatre Grade 5 Distinction
Holly MaCartney-Filgate Singing Grade 4 Merit
Hannah Hockin Singing Grade 4 Pass
YR 11 Natasha Routly Singing Grade 4 Merit
Canzonetta do St Joseph\'s proud at Birmingham National Choral Festival in July 2009 and the Senior Chamber Choir went on tour to Spain this summer.
St Joseph's School, Launceston, Cornwall, PL15 8HN - Tel: (01566) 772580 - Fax: (01566) 775902
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