Magical Winter Concert

The Winter Concert dazzled from the very first note, made all the more enchanting by the magical setting of St John’s Church, Waterloo, where the warm acoustics and festive atmosphere perfectly framed the evening. Caterham’s Symphony Orchestrawas joined by the wonderful Brandenburg Sinfonia, whose professional musicians played side-by-side with the pupils—opened with a commanding performance of Winter from Vivaldi’s Concerto No. 4 in F Minor. They captured both the icy bite and fiery brilliance of the score with remarkable precision and confidence. Dr Chris Brammeld’s Festive Overture sparkled with energy and cheer, followed by a delightfully shimmering rendition of Prokofiev’s Troika. The orchestra concluded their set with an expressive and beautifully shaped selection from Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons, each movement played with maturity far beyond the pupils’ years and warmly received by the audience.

The evening’s magic continued with outstanding performances from some smaller ensembles. The Saxophone Ensemble offered a rich and atmospheric interpretation of a traditional Norwegian Christmas piece: Et Barn Er Fodt I Bethlehem before shifting gear into Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances, where their rhythmic flair and ensemble cohesion shone. The Flute Choir brought elegance and charm with Warlock’s Capriol Suite, capturing its Renaissance spirit with crisp articulation and a unified tone.
To close the concert, the Film Orchestra (joined by the Brandenburg Sinfonia) delighted the audience with a cinematic and brilliantly polished set featuring music from Home Alone, Elfman’s Music for a Darkened Theatre, and highlights from Frozen. Their spirited playing filled St John’s with festive joy, rounding off an unforgettable evening that celebrated not only the pupils’ hard work and musicianship but also the inspiring collaboration with the Brandenburg Sinfonia.