The first week of October saw the thirteenth Festival of Music take place here at Ipswich School including a Wolsey 550 concert, a Jazz Night and Evensong at St Mary-le-Tower. Audiences were treated to excellent music from a number of professional musicians, as well as students from Ipswich School and other high schools who played alongside them.

The opening night concert saw the Wolsey Consort perform O Wilhelme Pastor Bone by Taverner, Ah Robin by William Cornish, and Pastime with Good Company attr Henry VIII, while Mr Edgar-Wilson from the Britten Faculty and Hexachordia brought Cardinal Wolsey’s story to life in words and music.

The Jazz Night on Friday started with jazz violinist Ben Holder leading a workshop for Ipswich School strings students, explaining to them how to play jazz violin. In the concert, they then performed alongside him, with solos from Harriet and Colin. The Ipswich School Big Band opened each half, playing with Ben and his band. Ben, whose performance gained a standing ovation from the audience, said afterwards on Twitter “All the young musicians were fantastic! The future of music is bright with so many
talented musical students!” @gingerviolinguy

There was also a performance from the Prometheus Orchestra on Saturday and high school students, including a large number from Ipswich School, were lucky enough to take part in the concert alongside them. Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony and Beethoven’s 5th Symphony were performed with students joining in for the 1st movement and 4th movement respectively. After an afternoon full of rehearsals, the evening show did not disappoint.

It was an incredible experience where students from both Ipswich School and others were able to perform alongside professional musicians, whilst learning from them and their expertise; it was a night to remember!

Emily H, Year 13