Rousing Elgar finales were the icing on the cake of at a packed Albert Hall, writes Mike Addelman
TICKETS were like gold dust for the showcase musical event of the year for pupils - the Schools Prom.
There were balloons, fireworks brass bands, jazz groups, a chamber ensemble, choristers and a steel band. And it was a sell-out.
In its 28th year and still going strong, the Prom in London’s Royal Albert Hall gave 33 groups including 3,000 musicians and dancers the chance to show off their talents over three lively evenings.
Each ended with a rousing rendition of Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance played by Northamptonshire County Youth Orchestra on Monday, Birmingham School Symphony Orchestra on Tuesday and Oxfordshire County Youth Orchestra on Wednesday.
It was the first prom appearance for the 42-strong boys’ choir from John Fisher school in south London. The 11 to 13-year-olds from the Purley comprehensive, who made the 2000 final of the Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year competition, sang Bardos, Kodaly and Handel. Music teacher, Alan Murdoch, said: “Our success is great because nowadays choir singing isn’t that popular. It isn’t seen as cool.”
He uses the rarely taught system of Hungarian composer Kodaly where music learning is done through the voice using hand signs. “The system helps everyone, including children who play instruments, because they understand musical pitch,” said Mr Murdoch.
“It is very rare to find someone who can’t sing in pitch if they are taught correctly. Virtually everyone has some musical ability.”
Portchester community school in Hampshire took Caribbean sounds to the proms, organised by education charity Music for Youth.
Peter Beadell, head of music, established the Sounds of Steel band five years ago. It has flourished and Portchester now offers steel pan tutoring and workshops for pupils and the community.
It was the first group from outside London to win the prestigious Pan On the Road competition at the Notting Hill Carnival in 2001.
At the prom, the 35-strong Sounds of Steel played Samuel Barber’s “Adagio” and one of this year’s hot tunes from Trinidad called “Music For The Soul”.
Mr Beadell said: “Culturally, it has been interesting for our pupils. We have only one pupil from an African-Caribbean background.”
Equipping a steel band is costly. Instruments cost up to pound;600 each and Sounds of Steel use around 75. But Mr Beadell said: “The project is worth it because it offers structured leisure time to pupils. It has lots of street credibility.”
See next week’s edition of Friday for Prom reviews
