Summer Concert at Guildford Cathedral
Posted on Monday 12 July 2010
Solo performers with professional orchestra and College Choir thrill audience
A packed audience in the magnificent setting of Guildford Cathedral was entranced on Friday evening by the end of year concert by students at Farnborough Sixth Form College. It was a typically ambitious programme of solo and choral performances conducted by College Director of Music, Paul Bambrough.
The evening opened with Gordon Jacob’s Concerto for Flute and String Orchestra with second year student soloist, Katy Ovens. Katy had won the College’s Concerto Competition earlier in the year, the first prize of which was to perform solo with a professional orchestra in the summer.
In this four movement concerto, in which the Flute is rarely silent, Katy sustained a powerful performing presence throughout, beautifully capturing the work’s lyrical romanticism whilst also meeting the brilliant technical demands of the Finale with apparent ease.
Chairman of Governors William Bagnall said, “It was the sort of performance I would expect to see by a professional musician in the Royal Albert Hall – for an 18 year old it was astonishing!”
After the concert, Katy was typically modest about the piece. She said, “I am hoping to be a professional musician in the future and to be given an opportunity to play as a solo flautist with an orchestra in a place as wonderful as Guildford Cathedral has been amazing – I am sure it is only possible at Farnborough Sixth Form College!” Katy added, “I would just love to do it again!”
Runner up in the Concerto Competition was first year student, Rachel Mills and she was selected to be soloist in the evening’s second piece, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 1 in C major, 1st movement, Allegro con brio. In this most imposing of works, she performed with great maturity and composure, demonstrating a sensitive awareness of tone and phrasing in addition to some sparkling passage work.
The final piece of the evening was a performance of Haydn’s Nelson Mass by the 100-strong College Choral Society. This rousing, exhilarating and majestic music was the perfect end to a successful year at the College. Throughout the work all of the students demonstrated outstanding musicianship as well as great passion and commitment, producing a wonderful sound that resonated beautifully within the vast Cathedral space.
Speaking at the end of the concert, retiring College Principal Dr John Guy congratulated the students on their magnificent performance. “Yet again you have brought much credit to yourselves and to the College – it is a privilege to have been your Principal for 18 years.”
