Writes Samuel Hill, Music Administrator
Our 2026-2027 series of concerts began with our annual Music Scholars’ Concert, held in the Recital Hall on Friday 2 October. With performances from eleven new and existing Music Scholars, the concert featured a wide range of music, with a programme spanning French Baroque to contemporary jazz.
The Concert opened with cellist Louis F. (U3rds) playing Bloch’s Prayer, a beautifully played meditative movement to begin the afternoon. This was followed by the soaring oboe Romance by Carl Nielsen, gracefully performed by Nisaja D. (4ths), before Jayde L. (4ths) took to the stage to give an elegant rendition of Chopin’s Waltz in C-sharp minor on the piano.
It was then the turn of Yahya G. (4ths) to play, giving a lively performance of the jazzy Tune for Joey by Andy Hampton. We then enjoyed a moment of calm reflection as pianist Bertie M. (Divs) gave a sensitive performance of the slow movement from Beethoven’s Pathétique Sonata. With a fiercely difficult accompaniment deftly played by our new Graduate Musician Miss Xia Liu, Xiling W. (4ths) then gave a dazzling performance of the third movement of Martinů’s virtuosic Flute Sonata.
Pianist Josh S. (Divs) played next, treating the audience to a rhythmic and delightfully light-hearted performance of The Cat and the Mouse by Aaron Copland, before we settled into Poulenc’s mysterious Élégie, the first movement from his Oboe Sonata, played expressively by Ethan G. (5ths). The audience was then transported to eighteenth-century France with Daquin’s chirpy Le Coucou, played stylishly by pianist Elliot M. (Divs).
Next, one of our youngest new scholars, Ayaan T. (3rds), gave a fearless performance of the fourth movement from Gordon Jacob’s arrangement of music by Tartini for clarinet. To close the concert, Kaihan T. (Divs) performed the virtuosic Hungarian Rhapsody for cello by Bohemian composer David Popper. It was a stunning performance to end a highly memorable concert.
As ever, the concert was kindly supported by the Serenaders Music Support Group. For more than thirty years, the Serenaders have supported music at Taylors’ through fundraising events, as well as providing refreshments at concerts throughout the year.
The next fundraising event is the Friends’ Quiz Night on Saturday 14 November, tickets for which may be purchased here: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/GZZS
Parents who would be interested in joining the Serenaders can email Serenaders@mtsn.org.uk
