Boston Spa School Recitals Evening
Following on from the success of a similar event last year, Boston Spa School again presented a “Recitals Evening” in St Mary’s Church on Thursday 23rd April 2009. Four students each performed an assessed Recital, as a part of their ‘A Level’ Course work. The lucky audience enjoyed some first class performances by talented local young musicians.
First to perform was Simon Baxter from Barwick in Elmet, playing both electric and acoustic guitar, unaccompanied and with a backing track.
Next was Luke Langley from Scholes who played the B flat clarinet accompanied by Ann Dyer on piano, showing her consummate skills in accompanying as we have come to expect! Luke’s programme was perhaps the most conventional, and included works by Classical and modern composers, from Francois Devienne to James Rae via Johannes Brahms!
After a break for refreshments, Byron Leak also from Scholes performed on the drum kit, playing a mixture of unaccompanied pieces and pieces with a backing track. This was perhaps the most surprising Recital – the sheer energy and dynamism needed to perform the pieces was truly impressive, and far from being “just a noise”!
Billy Harris from East Keswick completed the evening, playing both electric and acoustic guitar, unaccompanied and with a backing track, again ranging from Classical (Pachelbel Canon) to Modern.
It is really helpful to the Students to have an audience is present to create the atmosphere of a live concert, and the acoustics and space for performing in St Mary’s really made for an excellent concert venue. The programmes notes and information were prepared by the performers as part of the Assessment process. With the agreement of the performers, Christian Aid benefitted to the tune of £75 from the sale of refreshments, and a generously supported retiring collection.
This was yet another evening to remember, and the hope is that it will be repeated for the students of 2010 next year. The regular attenders are looking forward to it already!
