[R]ecently, Windermere School musicians presented a very inspiring concert in Carver Church Windermere, under the skilled guidance of their Director of Music, Mrs Janet McCallum Hartley. This proved to be a superb concert all round. The first half of the evening was devoted to individual items by the senior and junior chamber choirs, as well as instrumental pieces and all were beautifully executed.
After the interval, the audience was treated to an inspired choice of choral work, bearing in mind 2018 represents one hundred years since the end of the first world war. Karl Jenkins` “Armed Man”, or Mass for Peace, is proving to be a very popular work among choirs, and rightly so as the movements take us so aptly through that dreadful war, ironically ending with a wish for Peace in this world.
The mixed voice choir was accompanied by a very skilled orchestral ensemble of flute, piccolo, cello, two trumpets, two very versatile percussionists and the church organ. The expert playing by this group of professional musicians seemed to inspire the young choristers and they, in return, inspired the ensemble. The performance was very moving and made more so because of the insight the young singers had into the work. The long silence before the applause at the end was evidence of the appreciation the audience felt, which merited a standing ovation.
Margaret Pattinson, who was in the audience at Carver Church, was full of praise for all those involved in the performance: “The Music Department at Windermere School is reassuring proof that real music is very much alive. Well done to all and thank you from your audience!”
