The voices of over 140 Sevenoaks students, staff, friends and family took to the stage in this term’s Choral Music at Sevenoaks concert. From Bach to Bruno Mars, the event featured a wide variety of musical styles, some of which were directed or accompanied by our brilliant students.
Miss Eccleshall made her conducting debut with the Junior Chamber Choir who gave two very different but equally beautiful performances. The first was ‘Ah, Love, But a Day’ by Amy Beach, followed by ‘Die With a Smile’ by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. ‘Die with a Smile’ featured solos from Jane (Y8), Alicia (Y9), Merryn (Y9), Ethan (Y8), Mara (Y8) and Evalyn (Y8).
The Senior Girls Choir followed, directed by Ms Day, again with two completely contrasting pieces. ‘Music When Soft Voices Die’ is an early 20th Century piece, consisting of wonderful harmonies and tragically beautiful lyrics. It begins in a very soft dynamic, but swells with the flowing phrases before diminishing to quiet again in the final few lines. ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo’ was written by the prolific composer Harry Warren and originally recorded as a Big Band number by Glenn Miller and his orchestra. The Senior Girls Choir brought its swinging rhythms and jazz harmonies to life as their second number of the evening.
Ms Day continued to conduct as Chorus continued in the vein of juxtaposing styles – performing two very different musical theatre numbers. The first was the iconic ‘Electricity’ from Billy Elliot, followed by ‘Light at the End of the Tunnel’ from Starlight Express. The former is a passionate ballad, full of emotion, and the latter is an upbeat finale-style gospel number (featuring a train whistle!).
Sennocke Consort performed three pieces, each with a different conductor. Alex (Y11) did a fantastic job leading the choir in a performance of the sacred piece ‘Lead Me, Lord’ by Samuel Sebastian Wesley. This was followed by ‘Crucifixus’ by Antonio Lotti, led by Mr Dyer. Eve (L6) led the choir’s final piece, ‘Sleep’ by Eric Whitacre, with the clarity and confidence of an experienced conductor.
Finally, Choral Society, directed by Mr Harvey, were joined by the Sevenoaks Parents and Friends choir in a performance of five pieces, each accompanied by a student organist and string orchestra. The first was the famous ‘Jesus bleibet meine Freude’ from Cantata BWV 147 by Bach, accompanied superbly by Orphée Patricot (L6). This was followed by ‘Ave Verum Corpus’ by Mozart, accompanied by Cookie who in just Year 9 did an outstanding job matching up to the Sixth Formers. Alfie (U6) accompanied a powerful rendition of ‘God is Gone Up’ by Finzi, the momentum of which propelled the choir into an awe-inspiring performance of ‘Seek him that Maketh the Seven Stars’ by Jonathan Dove, accompanied by Joseph (U6). Finally, Noah (L6) accompanied a performance of ‘Love Theory’ by Kirk Franklin, a modern gospel piece with funky swung rhythms and jazz harmonies – supported by some excellent brass players who joined the orchestra for the finale.
