House Music Competition 2022

After a three year wait, the House Music competition was back.

This year’s competition adopted a new format and comprised of three elements : Solo, Ensemble and Whole House Song. The rankings for each competition were then added together to determine the overall winner of the House Music Competition.

The competition adjudicator was Mr Eilir Own Griffiths, one of Wales’ most dynamic choral conductors, established music director and award winning composer.

During the morning , each House Ensemble and House Choir performed in front of an audience of parents and staff. The solo entrants submitted a video recording of their performances in advance of the competition day.

For weeks, across the school musics could be heard as all houses were eagerly rehearsing their competition entries.

Ensemble pieces included :

ST NICHOLAS: Jamaican Lullaby (Jamaican Trad.)

DE WINTON: The James Bond Theme (Norman)

DONALDSON’S: One day more (Schönberg/Boublil/Kretzmer)

SCHOOL: The medallion calls (Badelt/arr. Hammonds)

ORCHARD: Piano Concerto No. 21, 2^nd movement (W A Mozart)

ALWAY: Tiger Rag (arr. Kenny)

Whilst the adjudicator was reaching a verdict for the Ensemble round, there was mixed choir performance of Let It Go’ by James Bay. Dubbed the Alway ‘survivors’ , comprising pupils who have been at Christ College since the lower school,they first sang in 2016. The group thanked the staff who had helped them over the years and gave an emotional performance.

The Houses performed the following for their House Song :

DONALDSON’S: Slipping through my fingers (Andersson/Ulvaeus)

SCHOOL: Stand by me (Ben E. King)

ALWAY: Don’t stop me now (Mercury/arr. Brymer)

ORCHARD: Do you hear the people sing? (Schönberg/Boublil/Kretzmer)

ST NICHOLAS: My time is now (Le Bon)

DE WINTON: Writing’s on the wall (Smith/Klayton/Napes)

After all performances were completed it was decision time. Winners of each category were :

Solo : School House

Ensemble : School House

Song : deWinton House

The overall winners of the competition were School House, a first win for a Boys house!