We are so lucky to have the city of Oxford on our doorstep, and it was great to take 20 pupils to two major recitals as part of the sell-out Oxford Lieder Festival in the last fortnight. We enjoyed the opening recital in the Sheldonian, where international baritone Christian Gerhaher amazed us with a selection of Dvorak and Schumann songs, and then the following evening in the Holywell Music Rooms, in a programme of Schumann solos and duets with Sophie Kurthauser and Sarah Connolly. The 20 pupils were invited as some of our major singers with aspirations to progress as singers in the future – it was wonderful to see their reactions of what was possible in the performance of Lieder, seeing what these internationally renowned singers did to put forward the music and texts so vividly.
One of our Upper Sixth also had the chance to sing in a masterclass for young singers looking at music college entry – four years younger than any other participant. Myles Docherty offered three songs from Schumann Dichterliebe, performing to the well known lyrical tenor Ian Partridge CBE. The advice given was superb and very well pitched for young singers looking to take their music to the next level. Wonderful to support ambition, striving for excellence.
By Alex Tester, Director of Music
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