Christmas Concert

This year’s Christmas concert saw a huge variety of high-quality music being performed by a wide range of students and staff to a very appreciative capacity audience of over 400. It was a wonderful evening filled with a true festive spirit with performances from the school’s orchestra, windband, gospel choir, Ukulele groups, Barbershop ensemble, yr12 and yr13 A level music groups, Jazz Band, Senior and Staff Choir and soloists. The audience were also given the opportunity to join in with well-known carols and they sang with gusto!
The concert began with a candle-lit processional of ‘O come O come Emmanuel’ which set the mood for the evening. Hi-lights of the evening included stunning performances of Bohemian Rhapsody by the Senior and Staff Choir, Billie Jean by the Sixth Form Ukulele group, Bell Carol Fantasy from the windband and Gabriel’s Oboe from the orchestra. The gospel choir sang with enthusiasm, even adding some ‘choralography’ to their performances.  The Jazz Band had toes tapping with their performance of ‘One o’clock jump’ as did the Barbershop with ‘De animals a Comin’. Students presented Christmas readings focusing on the true meaning of Christmas as well as the more light-hearted side.

We were very fortunate to be joined by members of the South Chiltern Choral Society who sang a very lively version of ‘the Holly and the Ivy’ even getting the audience to join in. The final item featured the massed choirs of Highdown School and South Chiltern Choral in a rousing rendition of ‘And the Glory of the Lord’ from Handel’s Messiah. The Choral Society then presented a cheque for £1000 to Helen Bilkey, Head of Music, which is to help support and develop choral singing at Highdown.

Proceeds from the concert are to be shared between the charities Hope Asia and Crisis at Christmas.

Pictures taken during the event.