On Monday 30 May, at Cadogan Hall in London, music students from Weald performed in the UK Premiere of Tuvayhun: Beatitudes for Wounded World by Norwegian composer Kim Andre Arnesen. The concert was part of a special series to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and we were the only school invited to participate by our friends at Vox Anima London, an organisation the Music Department had worked alongside at our most recent Christmas concert.
The concert was conducted by Dr James Meaders and featured singers from across the UK and US. Following preparations in the weeks leading up to the event, the combined choirs joined together for the first time the day before the concert at King’s College Chapel in London. The students showed no signs of being overawed and conducted themselves admirably in the face of an experience none of them had had before. It was a long day, but the students managed it brilliantly. We met once again the following day for a dress rehearsal and following a smooth rehearsal run through, the evening performance was a resounding success.
The music staff would like to express their sincere thanks to the students who worked so hard and performed so wonderfully in this event. They were a credit to themselves, their families and the school, and we are extremely proud of them. My thanks also to the staff and parents and carers who supported the students so brilliantly, many of whom made the trip to attend the concert. A special mention must go to Emily who was one of just 13 members of the choir to recite a prayer on their own as part of the performance. Without exception our students were fantastic, and we hope they all thoroughly enjoyed being part of such a special occasion.