Perse musicians deliver stunning performance at Showcase Concert

Talented Perse musicians took the audience on a trip around the world and back in time as they returned to Saffron Hall for their showcase concert.

A wide repertoire from the 19th Century to the modern day, encompassing a variety of styles, provided the backdrop to the Escapades event, which included performances from the Perse Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Big Band and Wind Band 1.

The programme contained renditions of works by Weber, Mendelssohn and Ravel to George Gershwin, Gordon Goodwin, Rossano Galante and John Williams, whose piece Escapades from the soundtrack to the film Catch Me If You Can, lent its title to the name of the concert.

Perse Director of Music Ben Wingfield explained: “Escapades provided a nice springboard to explore music’s capacity to take us to far-flung places or periods of time. It allowed us to explore a programme which took us to Jazz Age Paris, Cuba, Hollywood and 19th Century Germany.

“It was lovely to have established classical pieces rubbing shoulders with swaggering big band music from the 20th and 21st Centuries, going back to John Williams, who mixes jazz and bebop with classical pretensions as well.

“We have quite a long association with Saffron Hall, so it was nice to be able to return to such a prestigious venue which has a beautiful sound for groups like ours. There were lots of lovely comments from audience members going away feeling exhilarated by the performance.”

Backed by their fellow musicians, saxophonist Marcus, bassoonist Smera and pianist Tom (all Upper Sixth) all performed featured solos following their success in the school’s Upper Sixth Concerto Competition last October.

Mr Wingfield said: “Marcus provided a wonderful performance of Escapades and Smera brought all the experience she has gained from the National Youth Orchestra with a magnificent performance of Weber’s Bassoon Concerto.

“Tom gave a whip-smart performance of the final movement from Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major, which is considered to be one of the most devilish pieces to play with the amount of ground covered in three minutes.

“The programme was challenging, but the pupils really rose to it. This was certainly one of the best Perse concerts I can remember in terms of musicianship and standard of performance.”