shhs magazine - South Hampstead High School

SHHS Interiors:Layout 1 12/06/2011 22:03 Page 14performed with such professionalism. Much appreciationis also given to the singing teachers of SouthHampstead High School who helped the girls preparefor the evening. Finally, special thanks go toNico de Villiers who accompanied all of the girls’performances. We say a bittersweet goodbye toNico who leaves South Hampstead High School totake a prestigious position as accompanist to thedistinguished soprano Barbara Bonney.Eleanor D, Year 12Spring Concert 2010On the 17th March 2010, South Hampstead’sdiverse musical ensembles united, with professionalismand panache, in St Peter’s Church, Belsize Park,to present the annual Spring Concert.The impressive arrangement commencedwith the Chamber Orchestra’s rendition of the firstmovement of Bach’s fourth Brandenburg Concerto.Mathilde M, Anne N and Antonia S thrilled the audiencewith three beautiful solos. Bella C was thesoprano soloist in the Kyrie from Fauré’s MesseBasse, and the junior choir, Chorale, went on toperform Cohen’s Hallelujah to great acclaim. CellistEliza M gave a polished interpretation of Bridge’sScherzo and the first half ended with a beautifulperformance of a slow movement from a Mozartflute concerto with soloist Samantha M and sensitiveaccompaniment from the Chamber Orchestra,directed by Miss Forsey. The Singers performedPergolesi’s Stabat Mater with much sensitivity, upliftedby solo arias from Ella G-K, Emma S and IsabellaW and solos from Ellie D, Isabel S and Ana H.The concert was testimony to the strengthof the Music department at South Hampstead;showcasing talent across all year groups.Beatrice C, Year 1214Autumn Concert 2010I found that this year's Autumn Concert at St. John'sSmith Square was a very special and memorableevening with a fantastic program; three orchestras,three choirs, The Big Band, Salsera and threeensembles - keeping the audience fully engaged allevening. There was only a month and half to preparebefore the 18th October approached, but thediversity of the program was inspiring, ranging fromPlay That Funky Music, to a preview of Monteverdi'sVespers, and from Lennon's Imagine toMendelssohn's Violin Concerto played beautifully byMathilde.Of course, the fact that I was fortunateenough to be offered the oppurtunity to performElgar's Cello Concerto will enable the evening toremain in my memory for many years to come,even if a significant majority of the evening, for me,was taken up with the line 'don't mess up' repeatingitself over and over in my head!Although each and every South Hampsteadmusician's rehearsal timetable was rather strenuousprior to the concert - let alone the music teachers'- I can speak positively on behalf of all the girls,teachers, and those who came to watch, and saythat each lunch-time, after school, and 8am rehearsalwas definitely worth it.A big, big thank you to all the teachers whoworked so hard, and to the girls who performed -especially Mr Webb and Miss Forsey!Hannah F, Year 11Monteverdi Vespers 2010On the 10th of December South Hampstead HighSchool took part in one of the well known and brilliantpieces of music - the Monteverdi Vespers.Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi was an Italian