A Sublime Evening of Music

Published by Farleigh School on Tuesday 21st of October 2025

Friday's charity piano recital, starring our very own Mrs Rockhill, Assistant Director of Music & Head of Keyboard, was quite simply, breathtaking. Known to us all at Farleigh for her skilled accompanying and high-quality teaching, Mrs Rockhill also enjoys a varied and fulfilling schedule of musical collaboration outside the school, performing all over the world, as well as recording and conducting.

It was a rare treat for us to host her at Farleigh, for a very special evening of ‘Music from the Movies’, during which she promised to transport us to places beyond our imaginations. No one was left behind, as her clarity of playing (belying the technical demands of the repertoire), the depth of feeling she communicated, and the exquisite tone and colour she created swept us along with her on a wild and wonderful journey through the soundtracks of some of the big screen favourites from the early ‘70s to present times.

The programme was carefully curated and performed to a backdrop of beautiful movie stills, including Harry Potter, Coco, Pirates of the Caribbean, Interstellar, Amélie, Cinema Paridiso, Frozen, The Fly and more. There was never a dull moment, and some very entertaining props kept us amused (as well as moved!). We were enraptured right up until the closing bars of He’s A Pirate when the parrot resting on Mrs Rockhill’s shoulder finally slid down her arm and joined her on the last chord!

It is a privilege to hear the Recital Hall piano played so exquisitely, and it was an unforgettable evening. The event raised £1,490, which will be divided equally between our two principal charities for 2025-2026, Mary’s Meals and Andover Young Carers. If you missed it and happen to be in Shropshire on Friday 7th November, you will have the opportunity to hear the programme again at the Ludlow Piano Festival, hosted by Alistair McGowan.

Tickets can be booked here.

Teresa Henderson