A JOINT CELEBRATION OF MUSIC BY TEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
Durham School, one of the oldest established schools in the country, has joined forces with nine other leading independent schools in the region in organising a very special charity concert at Durham Cathedral in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust. The Celebration of Music took place at 7 pm on Friday 5 February 2010 at Durham Cathedral with all proceeds going to the charity.
This sell-out concert was the result of the first ever collaboration between ten independent schools in County Durham. It was a unique event in that it is the largest orchestra and choir ever assembled in the region.
It was intended to showcase the exceptional standard of music achieved in all ten schools and to celebrate music-making and its impact on the wider community.
A former pupil of Durham School, composer Will Todd, was thrilled to be back in the North East as part of this exciting and important concert at which the fourth movement of his 2009 Te Deum ‘The House of the Lord’ will be performed, but with a special new orchestration added. Will Todd grew up in Durham and attended Durham School form 1981 – 1988, forging a highly successful career as a composer, pianist and teacher.
In the first half of the programme, the Orchestra performed Crown Imperial (Coronation March) William Walton (arranged by David Stone), Capriol Suite i.Basse-Danse ii.Pavane iii.Tordion iv.Bransles v.Pieds-en-l’air vi.Mattachins, Peter Warlock and Night on a Bare Mountain. Modeste Mussorgsky (arranged by Richard Ling). The Concert Band will perform Latin Gold! (Tequila, Oye Como Va, La Bamba) arranged by Paul Lavender and Music from Pirates of the Caribbean – At World’s End, Hans Zimmer (arranged by Ted Ricketts). The Choir and Orchestra will join together for the second part of the programme performing Movements from The Armed Man, Karl Jenkins, The House of the Lord, Will Todd and Zadok the Priest, George Frederic Handel.
For more information please contact Nicola McCann on 0191 375 3280 or by email at n.mccann@durhamschool.co.uk