Gala Concert 2024

Portsmouth Cathedral resounded to the sounds of our larger ensembles on Monday evening. Featuring more than 100 performers from Year 7 to Year 13 this concert marked the end of 6 consecutive days of music making.  

It was fantastic to hear the confidence of our youngest performers in Sinfonietta Strings and Middle School Brass who are developing a secure sense of ensemble and musicianship.  Our newly formed wind quintet made their debut with a refined and sophisticated performance of movements from Milhaud’s La Cheminée du roi René. Symphony Orchestra’s rendition of Mozkowski’s Three Spanish Dances was at once exuberant and tender with remarkable colours. 

The musical fireworks continued with PGS Brass and their performances of Liberty Bell, Handel’s Sarabande, Carnival of Venice (featuring a virtuosic trumpet solo from Elliot) and the finale from William Tell Overture. Concert Band closed the first half of the programme with music from Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves and picked up on Symphony Orchestra’s Spanish theme with a truly rousing performance of Robert Sheldon’s  Iberian Escapades - a real tour de force. 

The second half of the concert featured Chamber Choir and Community Choir performing Vivaldi’s ever-popular Gloria. The blend and balance of the combined 70 strong chorus was complimented by sensitive and refined solos from Eleanor (alto), Isabelle (soprano) and Noah and Daniel (treble duet) with cathedral lay clerk, Nick Pepin, singing the counter tenor solo.

Thank you to all our performers and to the Music staff team for their hard work and enthusiasm.  Our musicians have really embodied PGS’s core values of Commitment, Courage, Curiosity, Compassion, Collaboration and Creativity over this last half term.