The Piano Festival in the Holst Hall on 10 February celebrated the enthusiasm of 90 senior school performers from junior to advanced level for playing the piano.  As the adjudicator Mr Anthony Williams said, it was wonderful to see the passion and energy of each girl. “You really gave a performance!” Anthony Williams should know – he has an international reputation as a piano teacher, many of his pupils going on to achieve professional status. He knows what he’s looking for! Anthony commended the exceptional playing of many girls, their empathy and musicianship, a testament to their teachers.

Thursday, however, was not about winning a competition; it was a Festival and he really appreciated the informality and supportiveness of the girls for each other. Anthony has given recitals, broadcasts and concerto performances around the world and is an experienced accompanist. He had tips to help each performer, often demonstrating the technique for them. From lunchtime till 9.45pm, we heard a wide selection of genres from Baroque to Jazz and 20th century pieces in duets, solos and ensembles. The senior and advanced classes were more than a match for Chopin, Schumann, Schubert, and Schoenberg, Handel, Rachmaninov and they left us finally with Bizet’s ‘Carmen’, played with huge enjoyment by Frederica Onslow and Eleanor Makower. Thank you to all the pianists and their tutors and to the Music department for arranging the impressive event.

14.2.11