School Concert Sunday, 26 June 2011 A packed audience consisting of many parents and Old Etonians gathered last Sunday in a sweltering School Hall to hear the School Concert – the last under the leadership of Ralph Allwood who retires this half as Precentor and Director of Music. The evening began with an exquisite performance of Vaughan Williams’s " The Lark Ascending " played by Matthew Chambers and conducted by Eton’s Head of Strings Jack Rozman. A confident and stirring performance of Tchaikovsky’s " Symphony No.4 " followed with the School Orchestra conducted by Ralph Allwood.
After the interval, James Spicer – one of the Music Scholars leaving this year – confidently conducted highlights from the music to the film " Jurassic Park " composed by John Williams. After the recent refurbishment of School Hall, it seemed fitting to revive and perform Parry’s " Eton Memorial Ode" for orchestra and chorus, originally written for the opening of School Hall in 1908. After conducting this, Ralph Allwood addressed the audience and spoke eloquently about his time at Eton since his arrival in 1985.
The evening was brought to an emotional close with rousing audience-involved performances of " Jerusalem " and various School Songs – " Vale, " " Carmen Etonense " and " The Eton Boating Song. "
If you missed the School Concert or would like to hear it again, it is available on the external web site at the address below
www.etoncollege.com/Recordings.aspx
