Morrison’s Academy’s Lunchtime concert
Perth Festival of the Arts continues to give local schools a platform to perform at the lunchtime concerts.
At St John’s Kirk in Perth on Monday last week a small but enthusiastic audience welcomed the pupils of Morrison’s Academy, Crieff.
Sally Herbert, principal teacher of music, introduced the proceedings by explaining that the senior students were sitting exams; and there were also schools trip to Belgium and London.There would, as a result, be no large groups or orchestras performing.
We were subsequently entertained by nine soloists and a quartet, who all did so very ably, treating us to an eclectic mix of music performed on a variety of instruments. All the participants are currently in S2, apart from Rosie Stewart, S4, who ably displayed her skills on both piano then violin.
Pieces ranged from “March Militaire” by Schubert, played as the opening item on alto saxophone by Francesca Arblaster, to “Jumpin’ at the Woodside”, a composition by Count Basie, played by a quartet consisting of the aforementioned Francesca Albaster, again on alto saxophone, joined by Jessica McFarlane, Georgia Kay, and David Downie, all playing trumpets.
Jessica McFarlane is also to be commended for her lovely solo - the second movement from “Sonata for Trumpet” by Flors Peeters.
This was extremely musical playing that was enhanced by the wonderful acoustics of St. John’s Kirk, and she displayed some very good control of dynamic range and phrasing. Other performers were Caitlin Lewis (voice), Zoe Burrowes (cello) and Katharine Bryce (violin), who all gave assured performances displaying potential for the future.
All the youngsters were accompanied on the piano by music teachers Sally Herbert and Susan Smart, and given the depleted forces that were available today, it was indeed an admirable performance.
St John’s Kirk has been busy with school performances