February 25th 2018
The focus of this year’s Strings Festival, led by Laurence Kempton (who, as a chamber musician, has performed extensively both in this country and abroad, on BBC Radio 3 and in festivals throughout Europe), was upon chamber music. With workshop-masterclasses being given to the Chamber Orchestra, in an animated rehearsal of Bartók’s Roumanian Dances, and time being spent working on a trio and a duo, the atmosphere of the day was one of energetic intent and commitment.
Laurence Kempton took particular care both with Frank Bridge’s plangent Valse Russe, currently being worked upon by a lower school Piano Trio—Jack Pyman (Sch. 3e), Marcus Bradley (Exh.Mus 3e) and Ciaran Smith (Exh.Mus 4e)—and with Dvořák’s energetic Sonatine for violin and piano in a duo consisting of Alex Hobbs (Sch.Mus 4c) and Isaac Bingley (Sch.Mus 4e). The boys were encouraged to find freedom in connection and communication, developing an acute awareness of each other’s roles.
Solo participants included Sam Berry (Exh.Mus 3a) on the ‘cello, Kai Miles (Sch.Mus 4d), and Alex Colville (Sch.Mus L6m) on the violin, and finally Gary Xu (Exh.Mus L6b) on the double bass.
