Children show confidence in playing for each other

NINE soloists and two groups played for one another at Henley Youth Festival’s Music Makers day.

A choir and recorder ensemble and individual performances featuring an array of classical, soul and popular music was staged in the Rupert House School hall on Sunday afternoon.

Each act was introduced by Alfie Hay, the co-founder of the festival. After their performances, Maureen Idowu, a musician and teacher, gave the children feedback.

The children were given a chance to practise beforehand in music rooms around the school before they performed in front of their family members and peers.

Elin Johnston played How Far I’ll Go from Moana followed by Robin Sibley, who played Sherpherd’s Hey, a traditional Morris dance tune, both on the piano.

Ottilie Lamb, seven, did two performances, one where she played an aria from The Marriage of Figaro on the trumpet and for the second, she sang You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile, from Annie.

The Rupert House pupil said: “I felt happy. I like when I perform in front of people.” But she admitted that sometimes when she plays it can be difficult to “hit the right note”. Her mother Georgina said Ottilie has been playing the trumpet since she was four and has been playing the aria for two months, which is also one of her grade two pieces.

She said: “She practises her trumpet every week and then for her singing, she sings all the time and she’s in a production of Annie.

“I think this event is a really lovely way for the children to gain the experience of performing but in a relaxed environment.

“Ottilie does quite a lot of exams and dance shows that are all being judged competitively but it’s lovely to come together in a relaxed way and enjoy listening to people and for children to get a chance to show what they can do.”

Eva Henshall played Intervals by Michael Finnegan on the piano and 17 pupils from Valley Road school sang Pharaoh’s Story and Close Every Door from Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

The Sonning Common recorder ensemble was encouraged by their teacher Pip Marples, retired, who goes into the school every week to teach three levels of ability. The beginner group played London’s Burning while the intermediate group played Indian Warriors and Skye Boat Song. The advanced group closed the show with Kookaburra and Martin said to his Man.

Scarlett Holland, 10, was part of the group. She said: “I felt nervous and excited. I was shaking quite a lot and my hands were sweating but it was fine once I’d played the first few notes.”

Mr Marples, 75, said he was impressed with how well they did as they don’t usually perform Martin said to his Man until the summer term.

He said: “I fast-forwarded it by about three months and that’s quite a wodge of time and we did it at short notice and it wasn’t perfect but it was close.

“I was very proud of them and all the other pieces were very well played. The festival gives them teamwork skills.”

Joanna Kosicka, from
Henley, played Minuet in C composed by Alexander Reinagle and Sophia Mul played Ode to Joy by Beethoven. This was followed by Claudia Armitage, from Rupert House, who played Annie’s Song by John Denver on the flute.

Lotte Groh, from Ancastle Green, played Go and tell Aunt Rhody on the violin. She said: “I’ve performed quite a lot of times with my piano but never really with a violin so that was quite nerve-racking.

“I’ve been playing for less than a year. I’m glad it worked out. I did switch teachers and my first teacher taught me differently.”

Her mother Johanna said: “I was super proud. She’s working really hard and I know that she can be really nervous so to see her do so well is lovely.”

Shanaya Yasin performed for the second year running on piano and she played Allegro.

The Valley Road choir comprised Alana Gove, Alyssa Atkins, Amelie Brewster, Betsy Burfitt, Caitlyn Meli, Daisy Cunningham, Darcey Watts, Emily Rosam, Frankie Holmes, Georgina Rosam, Joanna Brewster, Lacey Chester, Leah Welburn, Lucy Holmes, Melia Drummond, Olive Meli and Sophie Canning.

The Sonning Common recorder ensemble were Emma Windsor, Hazel Bowker-Meyer, Isabella Barker-Lyons, Isabelle de Savoye, Jack Geleta, James Boichat, Jessica Cottrell, Mia Hawkins, Myles Sturgess, Phoebe Hopson, Robin Bowker-Meyer, Sam Parslew, Samuel Wilson, Scarlett Holland, Sophie Balcon, Teddy Cottle, Toby Jones, Toby Telford and Zach Smith.