It was the first time I had visited the 12^th century Hospital of St. Cross in Winchester, although the boys seemed perfectly at home walking along the covered cloister and into the side entrance of the vast and hugely impressive Norman Chapel.

Once inside, our group settled down to eat their prosaic packed lunch and unpack their instruments, while I marvelled at the tiled floor, towering pillars and ornately carved woodwork. Barely did I have a chance to notice the finer details, before Aspen’s warm-up on the piano caught my attention. His performance of Chopin during the concert itself was nothing short of captivating.

One by one, all the boys took their place at or beside the piano and prepared themselves for the concert, with a short practice and tuning, and I enjoyed myself trying to capture their concentration juxtaposed with the historic architecture of the setting.

The nave pews were well filled by the time the concert began in earnest, although I think many of the audience were as impressed by the warm-up as I was. We began with an Andante & Allegro performed by Wilfred on the trumpet, an experience which changed my view of the trumpet as a solo instrument. This was followed by Alfie performing – in his own words – a very different style of Adagio & Allegro on recorder, followed by a stunning rendition of Debussy’s Arabesque by William.

Next were Leon with his guitar, and Hal with the bassoon. I was not surprised to enjoy the guitar solo, the lesson room for that instrument being opposite my office, but the bassoon was another instrument I have not previously seen being centre stage. Will’s Meditation on the violin was as precise as it was beautiful, and Pascal’s double bass solo felt like the only instrument with stature appropriate to the venue.

We finished with Henry on the saxophone, with several rounds of appreciative applause for him and then for all the boys as they came forward together for their final bows. The appreciation continued all the way back to the archway where we had first entered, with members of the audience stopping our group to congratulate the boys on their superlative performances, and I have to say, I agreed with them.

Thanks must go to their Visiting Music Teachers, to our Musical Director, Russell du Plessis, who accompanied many of the boys, and to his Deputy, Elizabeth Willcocks, who made the practical arrangements and supervised the group.

Pamela Davies
Music Administrator