Composition successes for sixth formers

Two Sixth Form musicians, Helen Goddard and Simon Lascelles, shared their recent curricular compositions with large audiences in two musical events just before half term.

Helen Goddard, an U6 student in Colvin, composed a Two Piece Suite for the school Senior Jazz Band as part of her A Level composition course work. With Helen on tenor saxophone, the work was exceptionally well received at its world premiere at the Haileybury Summer Concert on Thursday 15 May, and the two movements, Loungin’ Around and Swingin’ Along, had members of the audience tapping their toes along with the music!

Simon Lascelles, whose A* GCSE composition portfolio included a choral psalm setting, finally heard his virtuoso Lauda, anima mea performed by the Chapel Choir at the annual Commemoration Service on Speech Day.

The imaginative and dramatic writing made a big impact on the congregation. Simon was runner-up last year in the BBC’s national Proms Young Composers’ Composition Competition, and he is hoping for similar success this year with this work.

Both pupils were well deserving of the Seigel Memorial Prizes for Musical Competition, which were awarded by Sir David Ramsbotham on Speech Day.