A Summer Celebration to Remember

It was one of those perfect Oxford evenings – a warm breeze, golden light, and just enough hum in the air to let you know summer was here to stay, at least for a while. Last night’s Summer Celebration Gala Concert, held in the impressive Olivier Hall at St Edward’s School, Oxford, brought together a dazzling array of young musical talent from across the county.

The Olivier Hall itself, part of the recently completed Christie Centre, is a world-class performance space with glorious acoustics and a design that blends tradition and modernity – fitting, perhaps, for an evening celebrating young people whose musical futures are being shaped by a rich heritage of training and innovation.

We were warmly welcomed by Cllr Mark Lygo, Chair of Oxfordshire County Council, who set the tone for the evening with enthusiasm and pride. The near-capacity audience had clearly interpreted “Gala” in summery style – linen, florals and plenty of short sleeves. It was a relaxed affair – informal in dress, but with a very real sense of occasion.

The concert opened with the Oxfordshire Schools Symphony Orchestra, conducted jointly by Mark Probert and Hefin Miles. They began with the stately grandeur of Aida’s Grand March, followed by the effervescent Mazurka from Coppélia – both delivered with confidence and flair.

A complete change of mood and instrumentation next, as the Bassoon Ensemble, directed by Lucy Robertson, delighted us with a witty and brilliantly arranged selection from The Mikado. I must confess I was immediately transported back to school days, remembering my own performance as Ko-Ko – I could still hear the words in my head, trying to match them to the melodies. The set concluded with a rousing rendition of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – joyfully played and joyfully received.

Next came the Oxfordshire County Trombone Quartet, introduced by the gloriously tall Simon Gray. Their programme was spot-on – a rousing Star Wars Medley, a haunting Christus Factus Est, and then, with a twinkle of brass-band cheek, Tromumba – which certainly lived up to its billing as “a bit of fun.”

Returning to the stage, the Symphony Orchestra gave us two movements from Dvořák’s New World Symphony – played with heart and precision – before sending us into the interval with the ever-thrilling Pirates of the Caribbean. The energy was infectious.

But the music didn’t stop there – far from it. In the foyer, Mark Probert had gathered a small troupe of brass players who kept us entertained while we enjoyed interval refreshments – a lovely touch.

The second half opened with the Oxfordshire County Youth Choir, conducted by Debbie Rose and accompanied with panache by Andy Bettle on St Edward’s beautiful Steinway Grand. Their opening number, the Toreador’s Song from Carmen, featured a wonderfully confident solo from baritone Sebastian Von Wendon and some impressively animated performance from the rest of the ensemble.

Sophia Kanior then took to the front for a haunting rendition of Stand Up – spine-tingling in its simplicity and power. The choir then brought West Side Story to life with America and Tonight – both delivered with energy and poise.

One of the evening’s most memorable moments followed, as the Youth Choir was joined by members of the Inclusive Choir for Let It Be. Thomas George gave a moving solo performance, and Katie Morris added an extraordinary saxophone solo that gave the familiar Beatles tune a whole new layer of richness.

To close the concert, the Oxfordshire Youth Wind Orchestra – again under Mark Probert’s baton – brought the evening to a magnificent conclusion. We were treated to Smiley’s Shine Down, the sweeping maritime drama of Tall Ships by Ron Goodwin (first heard at the Royal Tournament in the 1990s), a medley from The Sound of Music (with just a delicious taste of The Lonely Goatherd), and then, to cap it all, James Swearingen’s exhilarating Invicta.

It was a night of talent, heart, and sheer musical joy – a powerful reminder of the incredible opportunities offered to young people in Oxfordshire through music. My thanks to everyone who made the evening possible – and my heartfelt congratulations to every performer. You made the summer sing.