A Fabulous Concert at a top London venue

Published on isbi School News dated Wednesday 16th of April 2014

St Benedict's School Concert Choir ended the Lent term with a fabulous concert at St John's Smith Square in Westminster. The seventy-strong choir comprises pupils from all years in the Senior School and also includes staff members.

The evening began with a performance of Scaramouche Op. 165b by French composer Darius Milhaud written in 1937 and played on two grand pianos by St Benedict's piano teachers, Peter Jaekel and Jozef Janik. The Concert Choir then performed Bob Chilcott's delightful Aesop's Fables - masterful settings to five of Aesop's best known fables - composed by Chilcott in 2008.

After a short interval the audience was treated to the highlight of the evening - Carl Orff's exciting Carmina Burana. The Concert Choir and six Year 11 percussionists had spent the term rehearsing for what was a remarkable performance of this fabulous cantata of twenty-four songs music made famous on TV by the Old Spice advert and The X Factor. Under the expert direction of Chris Eastwood, and accompanied by Ben Gale (percussion), and Peter Jaekel and Jozef Janik (piano), the choir and soloists, Elizabeth Toye (soprano), Leandros Taliotis (baritone) and Dominic Walsh (tenor) sang with gusto and skill in both Latin and old German.

Kate Mythen, a parent of one of the Year 7 pupils, said: 'The children came off the stage on a huge high. What a fabulous opportunity for them to sing such a work at such a magnificent venue. Well done to all the performers! You fully deserved your standing ovation.'