The chamber music at Sevenoaks School this term has been exceptional. So many groups wished to take part that two concerts had to be scheduled early in February simply to accommodate those who wished to take their music seriously.

Additionally, little moments of chamber music kept popping up around the concert programmes, such as a group of six Year 7 girls playing in the IC informal, collections of Year 10 students playing in the Year 10 concert and a myriad of musicians playing their own pieces in the Composers’ Platform.

But pride of place must go to the entrants in the Pro Corda Competition, whose incredible work led to five groups being selected to perform in the National Finals in Manchester. Of these, the two groups involving Marcus Mok, Nina del Ser, Elspeth Newey, Claire Macfadyen, Georgina Gibb and Tabea Haas-Heger (twice) were invited to perform in the Wigmore Hall.

Pro Corda elected Sevenoaks School the inaugural winners of the Pro Corda trophy for the outstanding performers in the 2011 Festival.