Repton's Junior Musician of the Year

The evening of Wednesday 20th April saw the culmination of this year's music classes with the final of Repton's Young Musician of the Year. Latham boys were winners in no fewer than eight classes, twice as many as any other House, and hopes were high in both the Junior and Senior sections. Jamie Clarke (B Block) got things under way with a highly energetic and enjoyable performance on the timpani before Joseph Jankinson (A Block), the reigning junior champion, sang Handel's 'Si, tra i ceppi' with great poise, understanding, and entirely from memory. He achieved the same feat when he returned later to give a mesmerising rendition of the 1st movement of Richard Strauss' notoriously difficult Oboe Concerto. Guy Davis (O Block) rounded the first half off with a highly engaging and groovy performance of Dire Straits' 'Sultans of Swing' during which he improvised a great deal. All the boys drew praise, as well as the occasional constructive criticism, from the adjudicator, Ryan Hepburn, before Joseph was awarded first prize for a second year running for his mature and assured singing of Handel. Joseph now has the opportunity to complete the hat-trick in next year's competition! Mark Harrison (U6) was then given the opportunity to get the second half under way with his classical guitar as he performed Bach's 'Allemande' with great clarity, line and sense of direction. Hot on his heels was Edwin Wilton-Morgan (L6) for the first of his two performances. As winner of the Boys' Classical Sing he gave an authentic rendition of Faure's 'Dans les ruines d'une abbaye' conveying the song's Gallic lilt and sense of playful enjoyment. He returned later, as winner of the Popular Song, and delivered a highly moving interpretation of Bernstein's deceptively difficult 'Somewhere' from West Side Story. Tom Hume (U6) was Latham's final representative and the performance he gave of his own arrangement of 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' on the electric guitar was striking not only for its originality but for the ingenuous way in which he used all the different features of the instrument to deliver a unique and engaging sound. Again, all the boys were praised for the skill and variety of their performances, and everyone in the Beldam Hall was thrilled when Edwin was awarded second place with a 'highly commended' for his piece from West Side Story. It was a wonderful night of entertainment from all the Lathamites, and how pleasing it was to have a boy from every year group in the House represented in the competition. The future of Latham music is certainly bright and all the boys should be congratulated for all their hard work this year.