Raising the 17th Century Roof

The year’s Sheldonian Concert once again saw pupils perform a variety of marvellous pieces beneath the ethereal murals on the ceiling of Oxford’s historic theatre.

The concert began with the Symphony Orchestra’s rendition of two works by Saint-Saëns, Danse Macabre, the violin solo of which was performed by orchestra leader Daniel Brooks, and his Organ Symphony, with Giles Longstaff lending his supreme talents to the piece’s organ-driven climax.

The concert’s second half featured something of a change of mood, with the whole of the second form performing Bob Chilcott’s Jazz Songs of Innocence. The boys tackled the challenge of singing in three parts, as the work necessitates, with aplomb, and were in fine voice under the baton of Niki Moloney. They were followed by the joint-force ensemble of Choral Society and the MCS Chorus; who gave a moving performance of Whitacre’s Sleep, before the orchestra and choir came together for a final, rousing rendition of Parry’s seminal anthem, I Was Glad.