We were delighted to host our annual College Concert with the London Mozart Players on Tuesday 5 July.
This event once again gave our students, this year, from Year 5 through to Year 13, the wonderful opportunity to perform alongside, and be inspired by, some of the country’s finest musicians.
This summer’s performance saw the London Mozart Players present a selection of well-known orchestral items alongside our students and staff, opening with Handel’s Concerto Grosso in G major, Op.6 No.1 and Vivaldi’s Concerto for two Trumpets – first movement.
The programme continued with Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik – first movement performed by St Joseph’s String Group and the London Mozart Players.
There was a very welcome surprise addition, not on the original schedule, with a performance of Gabriel’s Oboe (Ennio Morricone) by Christopher O’ Neal to a transfixed and delighted audience.
This was followed by St Joseph’s Brass Group performing Divertimento – fourth movement – March by Leonard Salzedo and a wonderful solo performance from Rio Year 10 of Concerto in E Major – first movement by Bach.
The first half of the evening was rounded off with a rousing rendition of Pirates of the Caribbean arr. M Sweeney by Klaus Badelt from St Joseph’s Senior Wind Band.
After the interval, St Joseph’s Chamber Choir and Lower Senior Chamber Choir opened with Kyrie, Gloria and Sanctu from Mass in G, accompanied by the London Mozart Players.
This was followed by a mixture of well known pieces including a collaboration of the St Joseph’s String Quartet and the London Mozart Players performing Mozart’s String Quartet No 17 K458 (The Hunt) – first movement.
Then it was the turn of the London Mozart Players who performed Gustav Holst – St. Paul’s Suite, Op.20 1.Jig (Vivace), II. Ostinato (Presto), III. Intermezzo (Andante con moto -Vivace -Tempo I) and IV. Finale (The Dargason) (Allegro)
Guests also had the privilege of hearing the London Mozart Players perform the debut of a new composition from St. Joseph’s A Level student, Asha, “Allegro Moderato.”
Soloist Felix, in Year 12, performed Bassoon Concerto in Bb – first movement by Mozart and the evening was rounded off with a joint enterprise of Camille Saint-Saens -Danse Macabre arr R Ling performed by St Joseph’s College Orchestra and The London Mozart Players.
The evening finished with speeches and thanks by Head, Mrs Stotesbury and Director of Music, Mrs Kesel.
As is traditional at the College, the current final year A Level music students then gave out gifts and thanks to all those who had supported them on their musical journey through the College.
We would like to thank the London Mozart Players for an extremely memorable experience.
About The London Mozart Players
The London Mozart Players, the UK’s longest established chamber orchestra, was founded in 1949 by Harry Blech to delight audiences with the works of Mozart and Haydn. The orchestra is known for its unmistakable British roots. Over the last 72 years, the LMP has developed an outstanding reputation for adventurous, ambitious programming from Baroque through to genre-crossing contemporary music, and continues to build on its long history of association with many of the world’s finest artists including Sir James Galway, Dame Felicity Lott, Jane Glover, Howard Shelley, Nicola Benedetti, James Ehnes, John Suchet and Simon Callow. The orchestra enjoys an international reputation, touring extensively throughout Europe and the Far East, most recently Dubai and Hong Kong, and records frequently for Naxos, Chandos, CPO, Signum and Hyperion Records. The London Mozart Players has remained active throughout the pandemic. Not only was this player-led chamber orchestra the first ensemble to offer daily unique online content throughout lockdown with ‘At Home with LMP’ (available to view on YouTube), it was also the first UK orchestra to perform after restrictions were lifted in mid-June 2020, with their LMP Live! concert series with Tasmin Little and Jennifer Pike attracting an audience of over 1 million via Classic FM’s social media channels. In autumn 2020, LMP was in the vanguard of UK orchestras testing the waters with paid-for online orchestral concerts to support their musicians, with their eight-concert Classical Club series.
