THE spotlight fell on a school’s freshest talent in a premier concert to be remembered.
Year 7 students at Richmond School and Sixth Form College took to the stage for the first time in a new starters’ concert in front of a packed audience of friends and family.
Young musicians sang and played in an initiative designed to boost self-confidence and encourage musical prowess.
Many of the performers had older siblings supporting them as the curtain rose on their inaugural two-hour show.
Talents included soloists, trios and groups, violinists, guitarists and drummers with a varied repertoire ranging from classical to Taylor Swift and Britney Spears.
Head of music Andy King said: “It was really exciting gauging the extent of the latest talent to join the school.
“There were some tremendous performances and the audience really appreciated their efforts. The concert was open to everyone and there were rehearsals in the afternoon at which I could see their confidence growing.”
Music teacher Sally McGrath added: “We are very lucky to have such a wealth of talent in Year 7 and the show gave many of them the chance to perform for the first time. They really did themselves proud and we look forward to seeing them on stage on many more occasions in the coming years.”
Richmond School has an enviable reputation for music. Students have just returned from a prestigious trip to France during which they performed at Disneyland Paris.
The trip to France came after an exciting period that saw the school’s Chamber Choir win the performance prize at the National Festival of Music for Youth in Birmingham.
Earlier this year Mr King conducted the Stockton-based Tees Valley Youth Choir, during the filming of the Children in Need video God Only Knows, in which sixth former Sophie Overin performed on screen and sang in the recording.
She is also about to go head to head with her brother Dan in the grand final of the National Choir of the Year competition, due to be staged in Manchester on December 7.
Musicians have a busy schedule of events ahead of them in the run up to Christmas including a Christmas concert on December 15 and a Carol Service at St Mary’s Church, Richmond, on December 18.
They will also start rehearsals shortly for the school’s annual extravaganza, the Queen and Ben Elton musical We Will Rock You, due to be staged from February 11-13.
