A ‘Music Reunion’ was held at Keswick School last Saturday to mark the retirement of Marie Lee who had been head of music there for the past 31 years.
There was a ‘pop-up choir’ and instrumental ensemble with a concert featuring around 50 former students and staff. They sang Eva Cassidy’s version of Over the Rainbow, two African songs – O Re Mi and Siyahamba – and Rhythm of Life. These were some of the songs that the choir had sung in competitions, festivals and performances when the alumni were at school – in some cases many years ago.
It was as though they had never forgotten these songs and they were excellent performances!
The instrumental ensemble performed renditions of Money, Money Money, Nocturne from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Tequila.
There were also accomplished voice and guitar solos from local musicians and former students Jake McNicolas, Nat Dempsey and Rory McDonald.
Lucy Lake (Fernandez) and Briony Dawson (Carr) sang a version of I Know Him So Well from Chess. Mark Crossley sang a moving tribute to his dad of My Way, and Carrie Paterson (Burbush), Allix Atheron and Sophie Mills sang solos from musical theatre.
Former music teacher Dorothy Purcell (Hill) performed Finzi’s 1st Bagatelle with musicality on the clarinet. Local trio Jenni Hutchinson (Thornton), Emily Roper (Greenhow) and Rory McDonald gave an excellent rendition of You Learn.
The second part of the concert started with a recorded message from a former student in Japan – Hiromi – which was heartening to hear.
There was a sociable bring and share buffet at the interval and a lot of food, reminiscing and laughter as people met up in some cases after many years. People had travelled from all over the British isles to be there and it was a lovely afternoon of music making culminating in a fantastic concert.
