Merchant Taylors’ Company Schools’ Concert at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

From 3 - 6th March, 49 Merchant Taylors’ boys along with four boys from the Prep headed up to Liverpool for the reunion concert of the 11 Merchant Taylors’ Company schools. These musical events are rarities to cherish, the last two being in 1986 and then 2000! Following a four-hour coach journey, the boys checked in to the Best Western hotel in the centre of Liverpool, before enjoying a fine feast at Bella Italia in the heart of the city. On the Friday, we all headed to the boys’ and girls’ schools in Crosby for a full day of rehearsals led by Mr Holroyd (the Liverpool Director of Music), Mr Jones and Mrs Stubbs, before attending an evening reception in the dramatic crypt of Liverpool Cathedral. Here, each school performed one Beatles song, and our Vocal Group, on this occasion directed by Mr Jones, delivered a highly polished performance of Can’t Buy Me Love starring Benjamin Peart as the soloist. On the Saturday we had further rehearsals at the boys’ school, before heading to the Philharmonic Hall for a run-through in the afternoon. The evening concert was a real treat, with first-half items including a Vivaldi double-concerto movement from Willem and Niels Redman from Merchant Taylors’ Prep, together with a brilliant performance of Copland’s Hoe-Down from our Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Mr Couldridge. St. Helen’s contribution also had an MTS connection – they performed was a captivating choral work called High Flight, composed especially for the event by Mr Couldridge. The pièce de résistance however was the secondhalf item, Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, led expertly by our very own Christopher Savage. The sound of the c.300 singers with orchestra was truly magnificent, and filled every corner of the impressive Philharmonic Hall. Well done to all boys who took part – it was a most musical weekend, enjoyed by all.

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