From the Head of Senior School

GPS Music Showcase

Last week, 31 Churchie students participated in the GPS Music Showcase across four ensembles, each with their unique genre and discipline. The showcase brings together the best musicians from GPS schools to make music in a non-competitive environment, highlighting and embracing the artistic endeavours of the many students within the GPS system. Preparations for the showcase involved intense rehearsals starting at 8:30 am across various host schools. At least nine tutors from each school ran sectional tutorials across the ensembles, offering thorough and detailed musical education for the students throughout the day. Students then convened at BBC’s College Hall for an awe-inspiring concert.

The Symphony Orchestra opened the concert with an interesting array of music, using unique ‘whirly’ instruments to create interesting timbres in Winds of Poseidon by Robert Smith. The highlight was Berlioz’s March to the Scaffold, featuring Ellis Hogan (Year 12), Gabin Won (Year 11) and Bill McCart (Year 12) in the woodwind section.

The Concert Band, featuring six Churchie students, then performed three pieces, including the most evocative The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse by Randall Standridge.

Big Band was, in typical fashion, entertaining, with William Dique (Year 12) and Alex Smith (Year 10) as Churchie’s representatives in the 17-piece ensemble. Sweet Home Chicago was an audience favourite while the the melody of El Abrazo showcased Big Band’s virtuosic and expressive side.

Finally, the GPS Choir performed with an impressive 120 students on stage, evenly representing the GPS schools. The finale was a memorable performance of ‘Bridge over Troubled Water’, during which the Year 12 vocalists, which included Charlie Hartwright, Thomas Dwyer, Alastair McDonald, Guy Gorwood and Rafferty Keirnan, led a moving and memorable verse.

The evening celebrated the outstanding way in which all the schools came together to showcase GPS collaboration. Congratulations to the Churchie music students who represented the School and we extend our thanks to Mr Ben Hooper, Mr Jeremy Williamson, Mrs Rosemary Oxenford and Mr Bohdan Davison for their contributions to this event.

Rod Olsen
Head of Senior School