| I should like
to begin the report for this year by mentioning
those visiting instrumental staff who have left
during the past few months and thanking them for
their hard work. Miss Milnes, who taught violin
and viola, left last July and Mrs, Busbridge, our
other string teacher, left in January. We were
sorry to see Mr. Jackson depart after several
years in the School teaching violoncello and
double bass. I know these members of staff are
sadly missed by their pupils and we should like
to take this opportunity of wishing them well in
their new suroundings. We were pleased that Miss
Wyche joined the visiting staff in January and we
hope she will find her work in school both happy
and rewarding. The Music Society, under
the joint leadership of two Presidents, has had
another busy and successful year. I should like
to thank both JanetWebster and Gena Caulton for
their unfailing enthusiasm and hard work in all
musical ventures during the past twelve months.
Last May many of
our girls joined with pupils from Huyton C. of E.
Junior School, Sylvester County Junior School and
students of C. F. Mott College of Education in a
production of the Benjamin Britten Opera entitled
"Noye's Fludde'.. The parts of Noah's sons
and their wives were taken by Angela Reeve, Diana
Richardson, Eileen Kane, Carolyn Jessop, Eva
Nelson and Angela Lucas. Some memorable dancing
sequences were performed by Audrey Lofthouse and
Gillian Radley as the Raven and the Dove
respectively. Janet Webster very kindly
understudied the six major singing parts. She
might not have offered to undertake this task so
willingly if she had known that the cast would be
struck down with a nasty bout of influenza during
the week of the performances.
An informal
Summer Concert was held in July when both
Orchestras played various items, several folk
groups and recorder groups played and the
audience heard some fine pianoforte and solo
vocal pieces. The Chamber-Choir gave a memorable
performance of "Swing Low, Sweet
Chariot", the main Choir included
"Creation Jazz" and some items from
"Jesus Christ Superstar" and a clarinet
"pop" group gave a lively rendering of
"Nut Rocker". (Would Tchaikovsky have
recognised his little composition?}.
Soon after
returning from our Summer vacation we were
thinking about Christmas Carol Concerts. Our
customary visit to the Pensioners' Hall in
Prescot to sing carols took place after the
Autumn Term hud finished and it was pleasing to
see so many girls willing to give up time during
their holidays. I am sure it was not merely the
(hought of those tasty mince pies they received
after their singing that prompted them to go. A
smaller group of girls also went round Prescot to
sing carols in aid of the 'Harry Secombe War on
Want Appeal, for which worthy cause a most
encouraging sum of money was raised.
The main Carol
Service was held in the School Hall on Wednesday,
12th December. A return was made this year to the
more traditional form of Lessons and Carols, and
the Orchestras, Choirs and Congregation combined
to sing all the "old favourites". Some
less familiar pieces were included such as the
collection of Spanish carols entitled
"Christmas in Spain". The first year
Choir sang the familiar French carol "II est
n£" with an impeccable accent, the Music
Department disclaiming all responsibility for
that, needless to say. A folk group from the
fifth form performed 'Winter Wonderland" and
"Have Yourself a Merry Little
Christmas" with obvious enjoyment and
clarity of tone.
Our thoughts
turned to the production of '"My Fair
Lady" after Christmas, the account of which
is to be found elsewhere in the magazine. I
should not like to miss this opportunity,
however, of thanking every single member of the
enormous cast for their hard work and effort
which contributed to (he enormous success of the
production. The large team of helpers behind the
scenes, both staff and girls, must also be
thanked. At each performance one remembered the
amount of drive and enthusiasm given by choruses
and principals alike, but nobody would mind, I am
sure, if I put on record once again the
tremendous singing and acting ability of our two
main charactersJanet Webster as Eliza
Doolittle and Stephanie Simm as Professor
Higgins.
Other activities
of the Music Society during the year have
included a performance at the Summer Fair of
Prescot Parish Church, a visit by over one
hundred girls to the Royal Court Theatre in
Liverpool to see the "rock" musical,
"Godspell" and another visit to the
same theatre to see a production of "My Fair
Lady" by the Wallasey Operatic Society. The
School has been well represented at the
Industrial Concerts given by the Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic Orchestra.
Many girls have
achieved successes in instrumental examinations
of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of
Music. Passes were awarded to Karen Eccles (Grade
II Violoncello). Margaret Bannan (Grades III and
IV Cornet) and Helen Jones (Grades III and IV
French Horn). Merit passes have been achieved by
Denise Monaghan (Grade III Flute), Julie Harding
(Grade III Clarinet) and Anne Pilling (Grade V
Double Bass). We were particularly pleased that
Christine Wesby passed Grade III Clarinet with
Distinction.
In conclusion I
should like to thank all those girls who have
(aken part in musical activities with such
enthusiasm during the past year. My gratitude
also goes to those members of staff who have
given up their valuable time to sing with the
Choir or to help in any way behind the scenes.
One final word of thanks to you, our audiences,
for your unfailing support of our ventures.
H.B.
|