MOVING MELODIES

Lady Runcie Memorial Masterclass and Concert

Some pupils recently attended an inspiring Masterclass at St Albans High School, led by the internationally acclaimed pianist and composer, Pavel Timofeyevsky. The event was held as part of the Lady Rosalind Runcie Memorial Fund, which is dedicated to helping young pianists achieve excellence since its inception in 2013.

The fund has been instrumental in providing annual masterclasses for students from St Albans High School (STAHS) and St Albans School, giving them the opportunity to learn from some of the finest musicians in the world. This year, Pavel Timofeyevsky brought his wealth of expertise and experience to the classroom, offering invaluable guidance to students from both schools.

The masterclass was a fantastic opportunity for our young pianists to develop their skills, as they had the chance to perform and receive feedback from such a distinguished figure in the world of music. Following the masterclass, guests were treated to a recital, where two of our students, Albert from Upper Sixth Form and Henry from Lower Sixth Form, showcased their exceptional abilities on the piano.

Thank you to Pavel Timofeyevsky for his generosity in sharing his time and knowledge with us, and for his contribution to making this event a resounding success. The Lady Rosalind Runcie Memorial Fund continues to play an essential role in nurturing the musical talents of young people, and we look forward to many more years of support for our aspiring pianists.

Pro Corda Music Competition

A huge congratulations to our group for their outstanding performance in the first round of the Pro Corda National Chamber Music Competition on 3 February. Their hard work and dedication were evident as they received glowing feedback and valuable coaching from esteemed international Chamber Music coach, Dominic Moore.

Mr Moore shared insightful notes with the group, concluding his feedback with high praise: “A beautiful performance, congratulations.” The experience itself has proven to be a valuable learning opportunity for all involved.

We are thrilled to have just heard that the group has qualified for the semi-finals on 26 February! We are incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to seeing how this journey continues to unfold.

A beautiful performance, congratulations.

Dominic Moore

Last week, we enjoyed a lunchtime concert in the Smith Space. Jack performed Just the Two of us and Stairway to Heaven in preparation for his Grade Six piano exam, and Jamie shared his own composition.

This week we were treated to another lunchtime concert where Fifth Former Travis performed a variety of classical pieces on his violin.

Well done to all for such wonderful performances!

Click on the image to play the video of their performances