Spring Concert

Kent College

A full audience turned out at the University of Kent’s splendid new Colyer Fergusson Concert Hall for Kent College’s Spring Concert.

With a choir of 125 voices, made up of Kent College’s Senior Choir, Sedecim and Choral Society, as well as a full orchestra assembled, the stage was set in the comfort and splendid acoustics of the new auditorium for a thrilling evening of music making, which ended with a rousing standing ovation.

The main work in the programme was The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins in which the horror and terrible consequences of war are depicted through dramatic musical settings, so it was particularly fitting that the shorter first part of the concert was to open with Mars (The Bringer of War) from Holst’s planet suite, performed with the school’s Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Headmaster Dr David Lamper.

Solo talent from senior music scholars was then beautifully showcased with Head Girl Lizzie Baker performing Godard’s Trois Morceaux on the flute conducted by Mrs Jackie Spencer, and sopranos Helen Sammut (Year 11) and Helen Sotillo (Year 12) singing I Waited for the Lord from Mendelssohn’s Hymn of Praise.

After the interval, the stirring performance of Jenkins’ The Armed Man kept the audience on the edge of their seats with its vivid contrasts between the turbulent power of the full choral and orchestral forces and special moments of calm. These included a recitation of the Adhan (call to prayers) by Muezzin Salah Buzakrei who attends the Canterbury Mosque, and Charlotte Gray’s beautiful cello solo playing in the Benedictus.

All other solo movements were performed with great poise and emotion by senior pupils of Kent College, including Olivia Acock (Year 10), David Cain (Year 11), Josie Frappart (Year 12 and Claude Bloice-Sanders (Year 13).

Director of music Julian Ross, who coached the choirs and conducted the Jenkins piece, was completely delighted with both the standard and energy of this performance which achieved in bringing together so many different strands of the school and local community through the gift of music.

Carol Baker