From Kilt to Oboe - and a New Music School at Radley

Last thing on Sunday evening, I had the pleasure of joining Radley College for the opening concert of its splendid new Music School - a wonderful way to end the weekend.

It was a memorable occasion, with HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh attending as guest of honour and unveiling a suitably elegant plaque to mark the opening. I was also delighted to have a few words with Her Royal Highness - who, I think, had not seen me in full shrieval rig before - and with the Warden, both clearly proud of what has been created.

And what a building it is. Thoughtfully designed, light-filled and acoustically impressive, it feels every inch a place where music will flourish. The new Silk Hall sits at its heart - a beautifully reworked performance space with a real sense of occasion, designed not just for concerts but for recording and a wide range of musical activity.

Alongside it, generous rehearsal and teaching spaces, and a welcoming, open foyer that draws you in and encourages people to gather, reflect and, quite simply, enjoy being there. It has that rare quality of feeling both purposeful and uplifting at the same time.

The concert itself was a real celebration, introduced in fine style by the College Pipe Band and then showcasing the remarkable breadth of music-making at Radley. There was something rather joyful about hearing such a range of ensembles - orchestra, concert band, brass, chamber groups and big band - all playing their part in bringing the new building to life.

One small moment captured it perfectly: a young musician, moments earlier in his kilt - now changed into school uniform trousers - reappearing to take his place in the orchestra, looking just slightly befuddled as both he and his oboe negotiated being not quite ready at the same time. That didn't stop him playing brilliantly, I should add.

Particularly special was the inclusion of two new pieces jointly composed by the distinguished contemporary composer Cecilia McDowall and eight Radley College composers - a lovely reminder that a music school is not simply about performance, but also about creativity, collaboration and the encouragement of new talent.

The programme was full of energy and colour, from Graham Fitkin’s exuberant Metal to extracts from Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite and Woolfenden’s Shakespeare-inspired Gallimaufry. It made for a stirring and fitting celebration of a magnificent new space.

A new music school is, of course, about bricks and mortar only in part. More importantly, it is about what will happen within it in the years ahead - the practice, discipline, imagination and sheer enjoyment of music that will shape young lives. Radley College can be very proud of what has been created here, and I was delighted to be there to help celebrate its opening.