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Rave Reviews for Queenswood’s 120th Celebration at the Barbican

Friday 12 December 2014

Photography by Paul Toeman | www.loveptp.com

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A cast of more than 80 and a massed choir of over 200 performed at a sensational celebratory concert at the Barbican Hall, London, on Wednesday 3 December.

‘Yesterday’s events were spectacular, largely due to
all of the behind-the-scenes slick administration…I was made to feel so
comfortable and enveloped by the Queenswood School 120th year
celebrations at the Barbican. I was proud to stand in front and perform Feel
the Spirit with all the girls, the professional singers, the orchestra, and the
conductor, Ben Parry. A long day, but what a result. All those months of hard
work and preparation really paid off.
’

Melanie Marshall, soloist

 

‘Congratulations to all the pupils, staff, parents and friends at
Queenswood for such and exciting and celebratory concert on Wednesday in
London’s Barbican Hall. It was a pleasure to work with you all, and I hope you enjoyed performing as much as I did.  The choir singing was amazing and all looked and sounded so happy.
Here’s to another 120 years at Queenswood!’

Ben Parry, conductor

 

‘We all had such a laugh – I honestly haven’t had that much fun at the theatre for ages! Everyone did so brilliantly, so congratulations again…you’ve got a couple of stars there!’

An OQ

 

‘Blown away by the quality of the performances I have heard tonight. Totally stunning!’

Miranda Francis, Head of Junior Department, Royal College of Music

 

‘Just a quick note to say congratulations on your superb Barbican concert yesterday. We very much enjoyed the evening – the spirit of the school really shone through, and there was some truly superb singing from the lead girls.’

A sponsor

 

‘Many congratulations to everyone on a triumphant night at the Barbican. The event was a wonderful advertisement for the huge resources of talent that we have at Queenswood and it could only have been achieved through the hard work, flair and imagination of many people. This memorable event was another great milestone in Queenswood’s enviable tradition of Music, Drama and Dance of the highest quality.’

The Chair of Governors

 

‘It was a marvellous
experience for the girls and myself, who, despite having sung at the Barbican
before, with the adult choirs I’ve been in over the years, still found it so
exciting! It was a real honour to be
asked to join in such a special event.

.’

Liz Allen, Head of Music, Stormont School

 

‘It was beautifully managed and the enthusiasm of the children shone through.
It was really good to see all the actors in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
giving their very best…wherever you looked on stage, all of them were participating and giving a
hundred per cent.

It was also wonderful to see all the teachers and members of staff taking part as well as associated members of their families.’

A Parent

 

‘Just a short note to say how much I enjoyed the show last
night. The 1970s version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was inspired and very
well acted, sung and danced and with excellent comic timing. I remembered all
the hits from my teenage years and jolly nearly got up and boogied myself but
then “Dad’s dancing” is always a no-no!

‘As a big John Rutter fan the
second half was fantastic with some beautiful singing. My favourite section was
with the Prep School choirs as they all sung together like they had been doing
it for ages. The School song was also beautifully sung and it was nice to hear
those old girls joining in with gusto. I think it was definitely the best Queenswood
performing arts evening ever.’

 The Chair of the Chapel Trustees 

 

‘Oh my, you did yourselves proud! What a truly amazing
evening you have just given us all. 
Thank you so much and very many congratulations one and all…Amazing.  Don’t
know how you did it!’

 A Parent

 

‘Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the show last
night. I think my favourite part was the whistle-stop performance of Pyramus and Thisbe to 70s and 80s music – simply
excellent! You have certainly not lost your touch!’

 An OQ

‘What was most impressive was how confident and happy the girls were, and how each performer gave their heart and soul. Any school which can generate a production of that standard, with so many charismatic performers, is clearly doing a fantastic job.’

 A parent

‘I just had to write and say what a splendid evening we enjoyed. The standard of the drama and the music at the school is exceptional.’

 A grandparent

 

‘What a fantastic evening at the Barbican last night. Congratulations  to all who put in the hard effort to make it such a great
showcase of participation at Queenswood and of the breadth and depth of talent
that the Q team support and develop.’

 A Parent and Governor

 

‘Just a quick note to
say how much we enjoyed the anniversary event last night.
It was simply stunning, incredibly professional and beautifully measured. Musically, being part of the Barbican choir had a profound
effect on my daughter as a musician, and has nurtured her love of singing. I felt I had to tell you that it was the best school event I have ever been to.
The display of school spirit by the girls was also touching. Congratulations again to everyone involved.’

 A Parent

 

‘It was amazing – the rapturous applause from a huge
audience could have been a “Prom” performance or better! The Barbican certainly did us proud. We thought the standard of the performance of
A Midsummer Night’s Dream was extremely good – such fun and the choreography
excellent. The orchestra and singers and the massed choir were just beautiful. What a wonderful way to celebrate 120 years of  ‘Q’. The whole programme suited
the occasion so well.’

 An OQ

 

‘It really was a staggeringly impressive event and our St
Hilda’s girls were thrilled to take part. The archive video footage was beautifully edited and the production
of the Shakespeare so creative and well executed. You have some really
exceptionally talented actresses! The music, too, was super.  It was a joy to see my dear
friend Ben Parry directing proceedings – the girls loved singing under him –
and the choice of programme was just right.  All credit to Jonathan Dobson for
putting all of this together. Thank you for inviting us. It was a real treat…’

 Carolyn Godlee, Headmistress of St Hilda’s, Harpenden

 

‘Last
night was amazing! Such a great, hilarious, performance – I was bopping all the
way home. Congratulations again on yet another truly brill dramatic triumph!’

 An OQ

 

‘What
an amazing concert and an amazing evening… It went
fantastically well. Our
entire family had a wonderful time. We will all remember it for a long
long time. A very special evening indeed – thank you. Everyone that I have spoken
to in the audience was totally bowled over by it. Hats
off to all the performers and all those involved in making it such a splendid
evening.’

 A parent and singer

 

‘I
just wanted to congratulate the staff and the girls on the fantastic
performance last night. Wow, the singing and acting were amazing as were the soloists and the
orchestra. A fantastic way to celebrate the 120th Anniversary, and a very enjoyable
evening.’

 A parent 

 

‘WHAT A TRIUMPH!!! The
music, the choreography,
the set design, the costumes, the whole evening was wonderful. Can’t
believe what you all achieved with a bunch of kids in your spare time!
It was a very impressive performance by all concerned. I have been to
many Q productions, they are always impressive….
but this was another level. Congratulations to the whole
team. You are a dedicated bunch.’

 A parent

 

‘I just wanted to thank you
so much for making it possible for us to perform at the Barbican. I
absolutely loved performing on that amazing stage, having such a large
audience and being able to work with and then sing with such an amazing
orchestra and Ben Parry.
It was one of the most amazing performances I have ever taken part in
and it is something I will remember for my whole life.’

 A student 

 

‘I
felt immensely proud singing with the
girls and my colleagues and sharing the stage with such an amazing
soloist, a fantastic conductor and the wonderful members of the
orchestra.  A huge thank you to Mr Dobson for inspiring and nurturing
the choir in recent months.  Finally a massive well done
to all the unsung heroes and heroines behind the scenes who were
involved in the planning of the event and for co-ordinating the
complicated logistics of this incredible school celebration.’

 A member of staff

Actress and OQ Helen McCrory opened the concert with a speech that perfectly captured the proud spirit of Queenswood. After a short film of archive footage of Music and Drama performances over the years, the girls performed an hilarious reworking of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, set in a 1970s nightclub to a disco-fuelled soundtrack.

After the interval a 30-piece orchestra of world-class musicians played a specially composed fanfare by Head Girl Zoe Lykourgou, before the huge choir of girls, staff, parents and friends of the school performed John Rutter’s cycle of spirituals, Feel the Spirit. Ben Parry of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain conducted, and West End star Melanie Marshall gave a sublime rendition of the mezzo-soprano solos.

There was also a full choral and orchestral arrangement of the School Song – surely this challenging piece of music has never been sung with as much heart and verve!

Children from seven prep and junior schools joined the choir for a selection of Christmas Carols, and their voices blended beautifully with those of the older girls, to stunning effect.

There is a huge appetite, and a tremendous appreciation, for performance at Queenswood, and it was wonderful to be able to showcase the collective talents of so many girls at such a prestigious venue.

A DVD recording of the entire concert will be available soon.

View Rehearsal Photographs

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