More than 350 young string players aged 8 to 18 years filled Winchester Cathedral recently, as Hampshire Music Service gathered young musicians in preparation for their biggest ever performance at the Royal Albert Hall in April.
Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Roy Perry, attended and congratulated the ensembles for their impressive performance. He said: “This was an excellent concert with over 300 performers, from the very young to those about to go to university, organised as a precursor to their concert at the Royal Albert Hall on St George’s Day on 23 April. I would like to pay tribute to the pupils and staff involved.
“I would also like to thank Winchester Cathedral. We very much appreciate their support, which has enabled us to provide so many young people with unforgettable experiences of performing in a world-famous venue.
“Hampshire is one of the few counties to sustain a Music Service of this scale and calibre. Once again it is an example of what Hampshire can achieve because of its size and excellence.”
The Cathedral was filled to capacity with the performers and their guests. The performance included players from:
• Hampshire County Chamber Orchestra
• Hampshire County String Orchestra
• Winchester Area String Training Orchestra
• Eastleigh Area String Orchestra
• Gosport and Fareham String Orchestra
• Petersfield Area Schools String Orchestra
• North East Hampshire Area Schools String Orchestra
• Basingstoke Area Youth String Orchestra
Each orchestra played a piece separately, and then the group played ‘Fiddlers Hill’, together. This piece is their contribution to ‘Hampshire at the Hall’, the music service’s forthcoming concert of more than 2,000 young musicians at the Royal Albert Hall.
The composer of ‘Fiddlers Hill’, Jeff Moore, was also at the Cathedral to enjoy it. He said: “I’ve been lucky enough to hear many great performances of my music over the last few years, but this was particularly special. I thought the programming and the organisation of the evening was imaginative and well thought out, and the good spirit of all staff and children was evident throughout the day. And to hear Fiddler’s Hill played so convincingly by such a vast number of players was incredible.”
Hampshire at the Hall will take place at the Royal Albert Hall on 23 April, with 2,000 Hampshire Music Service pupils taking part in a programme that will range across many genres, performed by school pupils of all ages and backgrounds.
