A Remarkable Night of Music at the St Cecilia Concert

On Monday, the annual St Cecilia Concert took place at St Barnabas Church, showcasing the remarkable breadth and talent of Alleyn’s musicians.

The evening opened with the Chamber Choir’s performance of selections from Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, beautifully accompanied by Imogen Grist on harp. Under the direction of Mr Beatty, the choir brought energy and vibrancy to this beloved work, capturing both its simplicity and emotional depth. A major highlight followed with Hannah C-J’s exceptional performance of John Stanley’s Harpsichord Concerto in C minor. Hannah, one of our Year 13 Music Scholars, commanded the stage with remarkable virtuosity and musical maturity, navigating the technical demands of this elegant Baroque work with assurance and flair, a truly memorable display of musicianship.

The Schola Cantorum captivated the audience with an expressive rendering of Rachmaninov’s sublime Bogoroditse Devo, followed by a delightful and spirited arrangement of The Bare Necessities. The Chamber Orchestra brought the first half to a close with Anthony Hedges’s charming and beautiful Divertimento, their polished and refined string sound a testament to Ms Doley’s excellent coaching.

After the interval, the Sinfonietta, brilliantly and energetically conducted by Mr Bennett, made its St Cecilia Concert debut with Vivaldi’s L’Inverno and an atmospheric performance of the Coventry Carol. This appearance marked an important milestone for our training orchestra, with particularly poignant solos from Sam N on French horn and Isobel O on harp.

The Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Mr Fish, then delivered a performance of Gavin Bryars’s Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet that proved to be one of the most profound and moving moments of the evening. This haunting and deeply affecting contemporary work held the audience’s attention for over twenty minutes, creating an atmosphere of genuine emotion that lingered long after the incredible silence at the end. The orchestra followed with the first movement of Brahms’s Fourth Symphony, a towering work of the orchestral repertoire, before bringing the concert to a joyful and festive close with Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride.

Thank you to all the pupils and staff whose brilliant playing, dedication, and commitment made this such a memorable and moving evening of music-making.