Last Sunday afternoon (26 March), the Queen’s Hall at Queen’s College in Taunton was once again filled with the sound of classical music for the inaugural Orchestral Festival.
Back in Autumn 2016 the highly acclaimed Southern Sinfonia took up residency at Queen’s College, establishing a unique collaboration for both orchestra and school which is believed to have been the first of its kind in the country.
Fast forward four years and the Covid-19 Pandemic that led to restrictions resulting in more than two years of silence in the performing arts industry, and Sunday saw the very welcome return of Southern Sinfonia to Queen’s College and the celebration, once again, of the performing arts industry.
Sixty lucky young musicians from across the region spent the day at Queen’s College under the watchful eye of Southern Sinfonia’s Artistic Director/Conductor Simon Chalk. In collaboration with the school’s Head of Music, Ed Jenkins, Simon ran a one-day residential orchestral workshop where forty young people were given the opportunity to perform together in an orchestral ensemble, culminating in an impressive performance for parents and invited guests.
Throughout the day, students learned well-loved musical classics including Eric Coates’ The Dam Busters March, Henry Mancini’s The Pink Panther Theme, and Mussorgsky’s The Great Gate of Kiev which they performed to an audience of parents and invited guests.
Ed Jenkins, Head of Music at Queen’s said:
“We are extremely passionate about music at Queen’s and this was an amazing opportunity for all the students who took part in this special workshop to learn from each other, gain musical confidence and make new friends. I couldn’t have been prouder of them all.”
Simon Chalk, who’s passion is about learning music to inspire, enthuse and educate added:
“We are delighted to be back in the Queen’s Hall and firmly believe everyone deserves the opportunity to experience classical music, no matter what age. Workshops and concerts like these are an opportunity to connect with other young people with similar interests.”