Review: Schools’ concert: Auchterarder High School

May 30 2008 By Alister Y Allan

AUCHTERARDER High School, now known as the Community School of Auchterarder, provided the third of this year’s Perth Festival of Arts School Concerts. This was its debut at the festival.

The varied and intriguing programme began in a hushed, relaxed manner with an all-female choir, conducted by principal teacher of music Frances Gillies and sang “Lullaby” by Joel.

The junior brass band from P6 and P7, conducted by Scott Barker played two contrasted pieces by McKenzie, “Whirling Dervish”, which had an Arabic feel, and “Funk Riff” based on rock rhythms.

The first highlight of the programme, Preludes No 1 of five bagatelles for clarinet, was played by Rachel Gordon who produced a beautiful tone with nicely shaped phrases, awareness of dynamic contrasts and ease with the technical demands of the composer, Finzi.

The junior wind band returned with extra players from P5 pupils and played two more contrasted pieces by McKenzie, “Mini March” and “Pop Rock”.

Another contrast and a real highlight was “Kazee” by Stone for drum kit, played by Iain Rodger. This was a virtuosi display of kit playing of a very high standard with awareness of tempo changes, contrasts in dynamic which brought out the rhythmic complexity made this a marvellous aural experience.

The choir sang “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” by Elton John. The sound was clear, diction well enunciated and the vocal part clearly defined but this arrangement was not as effective as the previous one.

The string orchestra conducted by Sara Beaton performed “Over The Rainbow” by Arlen, arranged by Cerulli and selections from “Phantom of theOpera by Lloyd Weber arranged by Moore. The ensemble was joined by Robbie Stone (keyboard) and Iain Rodger (drum kit) and featured good intonation and phrasing, though the arrangement of the first piece was better balanced than the second in which the keyboard/kit accompaniment tended to dominate in places.

Another contrast provided yet another highlight; Robbie Stone (trumpet) performed a finely phrased Legato of the second movement from Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto in a very stylistic performance.

The senior brass ensemble, conducted by Scott Barker, provided two contrasted popular style pieces, “By The Time I Get To phoenix” by Webb, arrangement Ashmore, featuring a solo from Robbie Stone, and “Stick It” by Wyld, a more humorous piece.

The Wynd Band concluded the programme with “Free World Fantasy” by De Haan.

The whole concert was introduced by Mrs Gillies who paid tribute to the pupils’ hard work and to the instrumental staff, Scott Barker, Sara Beaton, Eileen Waterston and Maureen Rutherford.

On this evidence, the Community School of Auchterarder should be invited to participate next year.