Merchant Taylors and St Helen’s
Joint Concert

On Monday 21st March, Merchant Taylors’ School and Merchant Taylors' Prep joined forces with St. Helen’s and St. John’s Schools for the Joint Concert 2016. In terms of participation, this is beyond doubt our biggest musical event of the year, and this year’s concert did not disappoint. The first half consisted of an eclectic mix of highly polished items representing each school. St. John’s began proceedings with a tight and energetic medley of three pop songs, directed by Ann Selwood. St. Helen’s then followed this with High Flight, a new composition by Simon Couldridge, directed by Robert Crowley. It was beautifully sung, a very poignant moment in the concert. The Chamber Orchestra, directed by Simon Couldridge, then performed pieces by Walton and Copland, the latter in particular showing off some delightfully crisp and rhythmic string playing. The first half ended with a rendition of Can’t Buy Me Love, directed by Huw Jones and with Benjamin Peart soloing – though the madrigal-inspired arrangement was quite a departure from the original Beatles classic! The second half featured a choir of around 200 (the above schools’ choirs plus the combined parents’ choir), accompanied by professional orchestra (led by Christopher Savage). The amassed ensemble then performed the Romantic and melodious Messa di Gloria by Puccini, conducted by Huw Jones. It was a tour de force, sung with conviction and passion, and accompanied by a quality orchestral sound. The soloist was Windsor-based Ben Alden, whose operatic top B flats sounded lyrical and effortless! Overall, this was a very fine moment for MTS Music – one to remember – and thanks must go to all who performed.

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