College Summer Concert
Posted on Thursday 12 July 2007
Standing ovation for teenage virtuosi
Standing Ovation for students Jason and Helen
Two 18 year old music scholars at Farnborough Sixth Form College received standing ovations at their debuts as soloists at a concert held in Guildford Cathedral last week. The Summer College Concert was staged as part of the Guildford Summer Festival and the packed cathedral audience listened in awe to the young virtuosi.
Jason Chowdhury of Fleet has been a holder of a Hampshire Exceptional Ability Award since 2001 and was awarded a College Scholarship to study for his A levels in 2005. He won the College’s first Concerto Competition held in the autumn, the prize for which was the opportunity to perform solo with a professional orchestra at the Guildford Summer Festival. Jason is an accomplished percussionist and played Rosauro’s Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra, made more popular in recent years by Evelyn Glennie’s interpretation of the piece.
Jason said, “The marimba is a tuned percussion instrument of African heritage closely related to the xylophone and when I first heard it, I felt a real urge to develop skills in percussion.”
Jason added, “The concert was really exhilarating and I felt quite emotional about the response of the audience which was much stronger than I had ever expected – it was a wonderful way to end the year and my time at the College.”
Helen Lewis of Farnham, who was runner up in the Concerto Competition, sang Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate. She met the challenge of the opening Allegro of this exuberant work with wonderful technical control, filling the vast cathedral with her strong lyric soprano voice, and finished with a brilliant interpretation of the Alleluia movement.
Helen, who will be studying music at King’s College, London, next year, said, “I was so nervous waiting to go on stage because it was such a large venue but by the third movement I forgot I was nervous and began really to enjoy it.”
Helen added, “It is an experience I will never forget and I am really sad to be leaving the College although excited about starting my music degree.”
The concert was the brainchild of the College’s Director or Music, Paul Bambrough, who was celebrating the end of his 10th year at the College. In addition to the two solo works, the College Choral Society performed Carmina Burana, filling the Cathedral with pounding rhythms and medieval symbolism leading to a magnificently delivered O Fortuna finale.
Speaking after the concert, College Principal Dr John Guy said, “Paul Bambrough has produced many great musical performances and tonight was yet another brilliant example of his ambition for, and confidence in, so many young musicians. What a wonderful way to end a term!”
Captions (for more photos click here)
Jason Chowdhury finishes the Marimba Concerto with a flourish.
Helen Lewis sings Mozart's Exultate Jubilate
Paul Bambrough conducts choir and orchestra for Farnborough Sixth Form College's performance of Carmina Burana in Guildford Cathedral
