CHATSWORTH CONCERT

It has been an exceptional year for Repton’s musicians, who have performed in some extraordinary locations – Chatsworth, St Paul’s, Lichfield Cathedral, Steinway HQ, and St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, in addition to their busy round of concerts and services back home.

In October musicians from Repton and Repton Prep had the immense privilege of performing an evening concert in the Painted Hall of Chatsworth House, by kind permission of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. The programme celebrated the life and music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, joining the national celebrations of his 150th birthday that same week. This hugely memorable occasion saw performances of a variety of songs by Vaughan Williams given by pupils across all year groups, and an interactive telling of the story (by close harmony group The Reptiles) of the composer's compiling and arranging of English folk songs. A Block pupil Iyo K performed the mesmerising

Lark Ascending, with the sound of her violin soaring through the house, while a brass group (Sophie H, Martha H and Rocco E-W) opened the second half with a complete performance of Poulenc's barnstorming Trio for Trumpet, Horn and Trombone. These, and many other performances besides, made for a superb evening in one of England's finest houses, and it was a pleasure to be able to fundraise £1000 for the Chatsworth House Trust in the process.