Carols for good causes at Christmas concert

The audience at this year’s Charity Christmas Concert enjoyed a wealth of seasonal music performed by a number of the School’s music groups. The annual fund-raiser is run in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Barnet (RC Barnet) and its proceeds support a number of causes in the community.

This year’s President of RC Barnet, Saiful Shamsad, commented on the 20-year association between the club and QE, and welcomed the audience to the concert: “The considerable pool of talented pupils will ensure that you are treated to an evening of fine entertainment.”

The programme was eclectic, ranging from traditional festive favourites  – including movements from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, and pieces by Bach and Corelli – to an arrangement of H Gregson-Williams’ and S Barton’s The Chronicles of Narnia, arranged by Year 13 student Chris Wong.

There were performances from the String Camerata, the Concert Band, the Senior String Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra and the Junior Indian Ensemble as well as the Choir and Chamber Choir. The Concert was rounded off with a selection of carols, with the audience joining in.

Director of Music Kieron Howe said: “It is particularly pleasing that the boys not only performed to such a high standard, but have also been key contributors as both arrangers and directors. Praveen Prathapan and Janan Sathiendran have been running the Indian Music Ensembles for two years now with wonderful levels of success, reflected in the performance at the concert.”

The Charity Christmas Concert supports a number of local groups, including Youth Makes Music; Youth Speaks, Young Chef and Young Engineer. “Youth Makes Music is a venture which gives boys and girls from across London the opportunity to further their musical experience through performing at wonderful venues such as the Royal Festival Hall,” said Mr Howe.

Mr Howe thanked the boys and staff for all the hard work, preparation and practice that had gone towards making the event such a success.