Victorious De Winton Retain Their Music Crown!

The 2014 House Music competition culminated on Sunday evening in a House Singing competition that showcased the breadth of musical talent on offer from Christ College pupils.

House Instrumental

On Friday 17th October the Neuadd was filled with a large audience of parents, staff and supporters for the annual House Instrumental Competition. It was an evening of great entertainment with each house providing soloists for the categories of Keyboard, Strings, Brass, Woodwind and Percussion. In addition, each house had rehearsed an ensemble item, and these ranged in size from a saxophone duet with drum kit accompaniment to a group of four harpists. The marks from each House’s best three solo performances were added to the marks for the ensemble pieces.

The adjudicator on the night was John Madden. John is the Artistic Director of the National Schools Symphony Orchestra. A composer, editor and arranger, keyboard player and conductor, he began his musical education as a chorister in Liverpool Cathedral and went on to read Music at Cambridge as an academic exhibitioner. Having been director of music in various schools across the UK for over thirty years he is much in demand as a composer and teacher, and his work as an ABRSM examiner has taken him across the world.

Having taken time to consider his notes and award marks for each performance, the results were announced:

1st De Winton House

2nd St David’s House

3rd School House

4th Donaldson’s

5th Orchard House/Alway House

House Singing

Two days later, the much anticipated House Singing Competition took place to an audience of over 500 people in the sports hall. The air was full of excitement and the pressure was on to produce the goods after weeks of intensive rehearsals in just about every spare minute of each day. Each house performed an own-choice Part Song followed by a Foreign Language song and then their own choice of Unison song. The performances left the adjudicator, Dan Ludford-Thomas, with much to think about. As was commented in the final summing up, the overall standard was exceptionally high; and he said that singing in Brecon was most definitely alive and well.

With constructive feedback for all performances, the adjudicator handed over to the Director of Music, Jonathan Ling, to announce the scores.

1st De Winton House

2nd School House

3rd Donaldson’s/St David’s House

5th Orchard House

6th Alway House

Having won both competitions there was no doubt that De Winton had retained their crown as House Music winners. Jonathan Ling was particularly keen to congratulate all those who took part and especially to each of the Heads of House Music, who had inspired their peers and had driven them to new musical heights. For the assembled audience, it was an evening not to be forgotten. The challenge is now to raise the bar for next year’s event!