Our Performing Arts students had an unforgettable experience when they enjoyed an exclusive concert and workshop in the lead-up to The Whittington Music Festival. Held from 15–18 May at St John the Baptist Church, the festival is renowned for drawing world-class musicians from around the globe.
As part of this special event, we were treated to an interactive workshop that brought music to life. Students danced, clapped, and fully immersed themselves in the rhythms and melodies.
During the music workshop, they even took on the role of conductors. They used dance, gestures and emotions to guide the musicians to interpret their gestures and emotions through sound. The results ranged from gentle and melodic to romantic, dramatic, scary and tense.
The workshop ended on a high note with a lively, feel-good performance of Pharrell Williams’ hit ‘Happy’, leaving students, staff, and musicians beaming with joy.
This year’s Whittington Music Festival, titled ‘Wondrous May’, showcased an exceptional lineup of celebrated performers, including:
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Braimah Kanneh-Mason, an acclaimed violinist who has performed internationally, and appeared with orchestras including the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic. Braimah has also hosted an episode of the BBC series In the Studio and co-presented for Classic FM.
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Rob Burton, a London-based saxophonist and artist, rose to prominence as the Woodwind Category Winner of BBC Young Musician 2018. He went on to reach the Grand Final at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, performing as a concerto soloist with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
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Daisy Vatalaro, a cellist and music education advocate celebrated for her dynamic performances and commitment to outreach, inspiring audiences of all ages.
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Trio Archai, a rising chamber ensemble formed in Basel, Switzerland, who are making waves in both Basel and London. Comprised of Mar Valor (piano), Ayla Şahin (violin), and Finn Mannion (cello)/
Thank you to Whittington Music Festival for sharing the skills and expertise of these top-class musicians in the local community, and for inspiring our Performing Arts students with many different types of music.