Last Friday afternoon, we held the final of this year’s Intermediate Music Competition. The final took place at 4.30pm in the Recital Hall – the earlier time taking account of the usual length of such events.
The afternoon began with the brass class, which featured only trumpets. Firstly, there was Thomas B. playing Bizet’s enduringly popular Overture from Carmen. This was followed by the similarly well-known Trumpet Voluntary by William Boyce, played by Darsh S. The strings class began with Ben Y. playing the Gigue from Bach’s Partita No. 2, followed by Faure’s mournful Elegie played on the cello by Rafi A. The class ended with Sebastian F.’s performance of the virtuosic Chaconne in G minor, attributed to Tomaso Vitali, but re-interpreted by Leopold Charlier. The percussion class comprised just one boy, Ashaan J., who played Aretha Franklin’s Respect.
Next came the woodwind class, opening with flautist Kenan I. playing And Everything is Still by Andy Scott. After this, Rafi A. returned to the stage to play the third movement, Giocoso, from Lawson Lunde’s saxophone sonata. The longest class, the keyboard class, followed, and opened with Ethan G. playing the Koraal from Flor Peeters’ Suite Modale for organ. Then began the piano performances, with Raiyan Y. beginning proceedings with his rendition of the cheerful Coconut Mall by Ryo Nagatmatsu. Lucian H. performed next, playing Liebestraum No. 2 by Liszt. Il pleut, by the French composer Melanie Bonis, was next, given by Krish S. The final competitor in the keyboard class was Steven K., who played Chopin’s thrilling Prelude in B-flat minor. The guitar class was next, featuring but one competitor, Rushil P. He played an arrangement of Scarlatti’s Sonata in E minor. The afternoon, by now evening, closed with the singing class. There were meant to be three competitors, but owing to illness, Milan A. was unable to be present. The class began with Aarnav H. singing Schubert’s Die Forelle, followed by Markus F. singing Stars from Schoenberg’s Les Miserables.
The winners were as follows:
Brass Class: Thomas B.
String Class: Sebastian F.
Percussion Class: Ashaan J.
Woodwind Class: Rafi A.
Keyboard Class: Krish S.
Guitar Class: Rushil P.
Singing Class: Aarnav H.
Overall Winner: Rafi A.
Highly Commended: Raiyan Y. and Markus F.
