Summer Serenade - The St Edmund's Summer Prom

Date: Friday 6 July 2007

Whenever we put on an end of year concert - which of course we do every year - the fates always conspire against us. When we choose to perform on the Terrace, it can be guaranteed to be grey, chilly, breezy, often damp, and occasionally very wet indeed. On the other hand, if we perform in the Hall, that's the year when sub-tropical temperatures prevail!

Yesterday's decision to perform alfresco was therefore bound to backfire. A forecast of rain after 9.00pm encouraged the organising team to bring the starting time forward by half an hour, and hope to finish by 9.00. But, rain arrived soon after 5.00pm, and proceeded to continue either as 'dry drizzle' or far worse for the next several hours.

My review of the concert is, on this basis, coloured by the fact that I spent most of the performance standing under a gazebo, on the terrace, holding it down to prevent it from blowing away and leaving some powerful, and highly vulnerable loudspeakers open to the elements.

Despite the conditions the turn-out was terrific! Dignitaries like the Sheriff and her escort, and driver, came well prepared with brollies and blankets, and watched stoically throughout the whole evening. Other gazebos appeared, and there were plenty of nibbles, many a wine bottle, and in one case a 'curry supper' in evidence!

As for the music, most of the School's ensembles played in some shape or form, with a varied, and eventually truncated programme. Highlights for me were the String Orchestra's opener with movements from Gustav Holst's 'St Paul's Suite', the full orchestra's rendition of Faure's 'Sicilienne', and their blockbuster finale, taken straight from the 'Last Night of the Proms', the choirs with 'Moon River' and the Abba Songbook, and the bands, with Otis Redding's classic 'Respect' given the right treatment by James Murrum and Katie Bell.

The evening was in many ways one of valediction. The strongest musical year group, probably, in the School's history, bade farewell, and were thanked for their massive contributions over five years or more. And, Steve Wassell, the archetypal Grimethorpe boy, was saying 'goodbye' after eighteen years and two terms of delivering his unique brand of brass to generations of pupils. But, he will be back, part-time next year, with his inimitable brand of warmth and humour, and a mouthpiece for his tuba!

The concert itself ended suddenly: a message from the magnificent backroom team, led by James Styles and Oz Andrews, made it clear that rain was dripping through the roof of the staging, and threatening the microphones, not to mention the wind which was about to bring down the lighting rig. Everybody off! Musicians, audience, and staging!

The whole evening represented 'true British sang froid', and was 'thoroughly St Edmund's' said Cathy Sotillo. The youngest members of the audience played and slid on the wet grass, carefree; ladies in the back row danced their own 'umbrella dance' to Abba; Union Flags in abundance emerged in time for the Henry Wood medley of British Sea Songs, and 'Land of Hope and Glory'; and, Jon Dagley 'went home, turned on the heating, and had hot toast!'

Photographs, if any were taken in the murk, would surely show the amazing panorama of chairs, blankets, and umbrellas across the width of the Terrace. Someone might even have snapped John Mann attempting to hold his music in place with his foot, as he embarked on another violin passage!

Many, many thanks to the Music team of McDade, Braddy, Wassell, Underwood, Payne, and Carol Hawkins; equal thanks to the 'sound and light' men whose expertise produced an excellent musical and visual balance despite all the odds; and thanks too to Colin, and all the support staff who were clearing chairs off the terrace, long after all else had ended.

'Fantastic' is a much misused adjective. Last night was truly fantastic, in the sense of quite unbelievable!