School Christmas Concert

How many of these have I blogged about now?
Well it was time again for the Christmas concert.
It was sure to be a bit different this time round as the school had a new musical director in the summer so this was everyone's first chance to see what the new man was like. The last music teacher in the school was a bit of a hero and everyone loved him. It was very hard for the children to let go and accept a new person in the role.

As it turns out it wasn't bad at all. The show was a lot longer though as there were many new elements added such as dance routines and solo performances as well as several musical performances and arrangements by GCSE students needed as part of the practical elements to their grades.

The night started off as always with the Steel band playing people in. There has been a great change around since the last concert and many members have left so DS was up there at the front.

Some of the new additions to the line-up were a drum circle, the junior steel band, a breakdancing girl and a trio of asian dancers - 2 girls and a boy. The 2 girls were very ropey and had to keep watching each other for the moves but the young lad was amazing. He had great confidence and great moves too.

Another new addition to the regular school concert bill is a young girl called Pamela. I thought she was quite good but then she announces that she has 2 CDs out and is recording another album currently. No wonder they gave her 4 spots in the program singing On my own from Les Mis, Falling by Alicia Keys, A song she wrote herself in her own language and a part in the yr11 GCSE group.

The interval came 1 hour and 20 mins into the evening and everyone rushed for the beer table. There were a couple next to us who had already had too much and were quite rowdy. I tried my hardest to move away from them but i had a wheelchair in front of me so I was limited to my movements.

The start of the second half was time for DS to shine. He was taking the male part in Evanescance Bring me to life. DD was very apprehensive about how it was going to go. I think she was cringing a bit but to be honest it was fine. He had had only a couple of hours to prepare beforehand and only fluffed his words once. I think it is an incredibly hard song to attempt to sing and the girls did it brilliantly. I was very proud of DS. He seems completely comfortable onstage and not phased by nerves at all.

It was a very mixed second half including some Asian music played on the steel pans, a song sung in Latvian and also a song sung in Tagalog. One of my favourite pieces that I always look forward to is one of the school's most accomplished musicians playing a piano solo although I wish that the audience would give her more respect when she played ninstead of chatting and fidgetting all the way through.

There was a great finale with the Steel band playing a medoly of Christmas carols and the choir joining in with a big singsong to finish.

The greatest thing about it was that even though it didn't finish until 9.45pm, we were home for 10pm - It is so good not having so far to walk!!!