Stunning, spectacular, and sensational! RGS in Concert at Cadogan Hall
One hundred and eighty musicians from the First to Upper Sixth Forms joined by seventy more from Micklefield, Chinthurst and Reigate St Mary’s, performed to a near capacity crowd at the beautiful Cadogan Hall in Chelsea. The musicians provided a range of choral, ensemble and orchestral music of a quality that would not be out of place in any concert by the Cadogan Hall’s resident orchestra the Royal Philharmonic.
The Symphony Orchestra performed music by Brahms and from Star Wars to start the evening before being joined by three stellar soloists, all from the departing Upper Sixth Form, in concerto movements by Elgar and Gliere and the haunting theme to Schindler’s List. The Concert Band and Swing Band rounded off the first half with a mix of film music, Stevie Wonder and a roof raising performance of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy with three featured vocal soloists.
The second half featured choirs from Chinthurst and Micklefield, the RGS Godfrey Searle choristers and the Junior Girls’ Voices performing a mix of pop, musical theatre and sacred music. The Spring Orchestra, an opportunity for some of the more junior musicians to perform with some of the most experienced, performed music by Handel and a stirring rendition of Jupiter, from the Planets, by Holst. The RGS Chorus, the massed choirs of Reigate Grammar School, ended the concert with an epic medley of songs by Queen, arranged especially for the occasion.
Student bands supported the large-scale performances of music from The Greatest Showman and the group of Queen songs, providing a great sense of energy and style with great confidence.
The Head said on behalf of the audience in the hall
“An inspiring and uplifting evening – I am so proud of all the performers’ achievements”.
Enormous congratulations and thanks to everyone involved from the stage crew to the teachers who supervised and supported, and the performers’ parents and the visiting music teachers; a team effort on a huge scale.
