Trinity’s 60th Anniversary Concert

Trinity’s 60th Anniversary Concert was a joyful and moving celebration of six decades on the Shirley Park site and of the extraordinary musical life that has flourished here across that time. From the department’s modest beginnings, to the expansive, world‑class music department we know today, the evening traced the journey of a school that has grown into an All‑Steinway School with an international choral reputaion, a thriving orchestral and jazz programme, and a community of young musicians who continue to shine.

The concert began in festive style as the Senior Brass opened the evening with Carl Nielsen’s Festival Prelude, a work whose bright, resonant writing immediately set a celebratory tone. From this bold opening, the mood shifted to the elegance of the Baroque as two Fourth Year violinists, Oliver and Georges, gave a beautifully poised performance of Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins in D minor. This masterpiece, full of intricate interplay and flowing lyricism, allowed our young string players to demonstrate both technical assurance and a maturing musical instinct across all three movements.

The programme then turned to one of the department’s great strengths: its pianists. This year’s Steinway Scholar, Isaac, offered a deeply sensitive performance of the second movement of Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major, a movement renowned for its long, arching melodies and shimmering textures. The haunting cor anglais solo, played with control and elegance by Lower Sixth student Nathan, provided one of the evening’s most memorable moments. It was especially poignant given that earlier this week Nathan performed in the live stages of BBC Young Musician of the Year, placing him among the final forty performers nationwide.

The first half concluded with a thrilling performance of Márquez’s Danzón No. 2, whose rhythmic vitality and sweeping melodic outbursts were delivered with infectious energy by the Symphony Orchestra, sending the audience into the interval in high spirits.

After the break, Upper Sixth student Ruby opened the second half from the organ with Buxtehude’s Praeludium and Chaconne in C, performed with confidence and clarity. What followed celebrated one of Trinity’s most enduring musical traditions: its choirs. The Trinity Boys Choir, whose international reputation has been built over the past sixty years through opera, recordings, and touring, presented a beautifully varied set. They began with Rutter’s For the Beauty of the Earth, before moving into the brilliance of Britten’s Over Hill, Over Dale from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. An extract from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte featured a trio, Mickey, Alex and Elliot, whose assurance and polished sound were a particular highlight. Their set concluded with a lively and stylish performance of Piazzolla’s Libertango.

The Trinity Girls Choir followed with a programme that showcased their warmth of tone, unity of sound, and musical confidence. Accompanied by Andrew Garrido, they performed three traditional Irish melodies – Danny Boy, The Lark in the Clear Air, and The Last Rose of Summer – with poise and expressive nuance. Their Sound of Music medley and Sarah Quartel’s All the Way Home brought both charm and emotional depth, highlighting the ensemble’s growing artistry and strong sense of identity.

As the evening approached its close, the Trinity Light Orchestra brought bright rhythmic energy to Safi Tiotto‑Smith’s Strike Three. Particularly special was the fact that Safi is herself a former Trinity student, and that this dynamic, characterful piece began life as her A Level composition, a testament to the creativity nurtured within the department and a fitting inclusion in this anniversary celebration. The Big Band then delivered the finale that no gala could be without. Under the direction of Joe Pettitt, and featuring Upper Sixth vocalists Beni and Leo, the band performed He’s a Tramp and Fly Me to the Moon with swing, sparkle and unmistakable style. This was an exuberant and joyful end to a night that celebrated the breadth and vibrancy of music at Trinity.

Across the concert, what shone through most clearly was not just the range of repertoire or the calibre of performance, but the spirit of a department that has consistently inspired, challenged, and uplifted its students across sixty remarkable years. It was an evening that honoured the past, celebrated the present, and looked forward with confidence to an exciting musical future.

Liz Regan, Director of Music