St Mary’s students shine at spectacular summer concert
More than 100 St Mary’s Senior School students wowed audiences with moving musical performances at our annual Summer Gala Concert, which took place on Midsummer’s day (24th June) at Cambridge University’s Concert Hall on West Road.
Spectators including parents and staff were treated to a variety of musical styles on the night, including film medleys and classical showstoppers. Students delivered spell-binding stage performances, with the crowd enjoying musical numbers such as Serenata’s rendition of ‘When I Grow Up’ from ‘Matilda’ and Allegro’s rendition of ‘Bewitched’, as well as the Jazz Band and the Diamond Geezers accompaniment of Minnie Sanderson singing ‘Why Don’t You Do Right’.
St Mary’s alumna and professional musician, Georgina J., performed Mozart’s 'Sonata for Two Pianos' in D major (K448), alongside current Year 11 Music Scholar Sonia W. Georgina studied at our Senior School from 2008-2015 and, after achieving a top grade in her Music A-Level, undertook a BMus Honours degree in Piano performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. After graduating in 2019, she went on to complete a Master's degree at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she achieved a Distinction. Sonia has been playing the piano since she was four and passed her ABRSM Grade 8 examination in 2017. She is currently preparing to take the prestigious Trinity Piano Diploma. Both gave outstanding performances on the night, and it was definitely a sight to see two grand pianos next to each other!
Other highlights from the night included a stunning performance of two movements from Schumann’s 'Märchenbilder’, Op. 113, from our Music Captain and A Level musician, Maryam G., who was recently accepted to join the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. Maryam has won our coveted ‘Musician of the Year’ award for two years’ running, after wowing our adjudicator with her stunning viola performance. In addition to viola, Maryam is an advanced singer, violinist, and oboist, and has achieved distinctions at Grade 8 on all three instruments.
Sonia Gears, Director of Music at St Mary’s School, said: “We would like to congratulate all of the students who took part in our summer concert. Everyone truly rose to the occasion, giving committed and poised performances, which magically captivated the audience. We would like to thank everybody who was involved, including those who performed and coached the ensembles, as well as those who helped out, behind the scenes, to make the evening such a success. We are on the countdown to next year already!”
A gallery of photos from the evening is available here.