Young musicians
Last week we held two fantastic musical competitions at which students of different ages performed for our adjudicator, Suzi Digby OBE. Suzi is an internationally renowned choral conductor, choir master and music educator – with a passion to get the nation singing (you might have seen her on the latest series of Gareth Malone’s The Choir) – and she has judged the BBC School Choir of the Year and BBC Chorister of the Year competitions, to name just a few. Suzi also achieved the highest mark ever for Grade 8 piano, with a mark of 148/150! Read Suzi's bio here.
Suzi said: “Performing music occupies many more parts of your brain than anything else... it develops you in a special unique way. Did you know that music puts your brain in an alpha state when you perform, which helps with problem solving? Mathematicians often play instruments and during a performance or practice manage to solve their biggest problem.
The role of competition is a very interesting one – it’s not only about winning, although that's nice. It seems to me the real value is what you learn from others. Music is the only thing that's performed to a steady pulse; when you derail there is no moment to mull it over. You just get back on track. Over the years, you learn how to use your nerves; so much so, that if I’m not nervous before a performance, I worry I might give a half-baked performance.”
On Wednesday 9 November our pianists performed in the first competition: the Young Pianist of the Year Competition 2016. It was wonderful to see so many of the girls’ friends in attendance. Suzi kindly provided some words of wisdom about keeping calm before the performances started, praised parents for supporting young musicians during their school years, and spoke about the way music can elevate us above all worries and anxieties. The competition was split into the Intermediate Class (eight pianists) and Advanced Class (four pianists), and Suzi described her pleasure in listening to each of the girls perform, and to such a variety of pieces. Congratulations are in order for Lower Sixth student, Jesslyn F., winner of the Intermediate Class. Jesslyn performed Over the Rainbow, and Suzi applauded her natural musicianship and instinctive moves. Also in the Intermediate Class two students were Highly Commended: Isabella R.L., Year 8 student, for her performance of 60s Swing, and Bella T., Year 9 student, for her performance of Minuet and Trio, Third Movement from Sonata in Bp, Op.22 – well done to both girls. The final event of the evening was the adjudication of the Advanced Class, and presentation of the Agnes Heron Memorial Cup to the winner, the St Mary’s School, Cambridge Young Pianist of the Year 2016. Four girls performed in this category, each of which impressed Suzi, but there was one clear winner: congratulations to Annabelle B., Year 10 student, for her “amazing” performance of Rhapsody in G minor, Op. 79 No. 2. Mia R.B., Year 9 student, was Highly Commended for her performance of By a Meadow Brook, which Suzi said was very impressive indeed for someone aged just 13.
On the following evening, Thursday 10 November, our musicians took part in the second competition: the Young Musician of the Year Competition 2016. Our 2016 Young Pianist of the Year, Annabelle, opened the evening, performing her winning piece from the previous evening. 13 students performed in all, with Cecilia R.B. (Year 8) kicking off the competition, playing Water is Wide on the harp, followed by four violinists, one violist, and two cellists in the strings section, soprano, Lily B. (Lower Sixth) sang, Love’s Philosophy, and the evening concluded with clarinet, flute and alto saxophone performances in the wind section. In this competition four students were Highly Commended: Gigi D. (Year 11), for her performance of And Everything is Still… on the alto saxophone, a “very mature and complete performance”; Ruolan Y. (Upper Sixth), who played a “monstrously hard piece” Concert-Polonaise on cello; Henrietta M. (Lower Sixth), for her piece Solo Facile Op. 41, on violin – Suzi praised Henrietta’s “tremendous, wonderful stage presence and assuredness”; and Annabelle B., this time on violin, for her performance of Concerto in G Minor: Movement II Adagio. The final accolade of the evening went to the winner of the competition, Lily B., for her voice performance of Love’s Philosophy. Suzi praised Lily, saying “it is very, very, rare to come across the full package as you have it”. Congratulations to all of the girls who performed – it truly was a fantastic evening with moving performances and it was clear to see how hard the girls work in honing their talents. Thank you to our Acting Head of Music, Mrs Sonia Gears, for orchestrating such excellent events and supporting the girls in all they do.
Click here to view photos of both events.