House Music Competition 2023

This year’s House Music Competition attracted over 250 entries in solo, duet and ensemble classes, held over two days and culminating in the Finals Concert on Thursday 2 February. This year the House Singing Competition returned for the first time since 2020 after delays enforced by the pandemic as a stand-alone competition on the afternoon of Monday 30 January.

The House Singing Competition was a marvellous event in which almost the entire school participated and there was a real buzz in Great School as the Houses gathered in anticipation. A great deal of effort and thought had gone into all the performances, not only in the choice of song, but also in presentation and singing entirely from memory. The adjudicator was Ann Wright, formerly Director of Music at Bradfield College and now Director of Education of the VOCES8 Foundation. She awarded first place to Field’s House for their performance of From now on from The Greatest Showman. From Kiara N’s opening solo to the impeccable harmonies supported by Vivi L’s piano and Victoria K’s guitar accompaniment, Field’s were worthy winners. School House were placed second with a hugely enjoyable performance of It must be love by Madness. With their inflatable saxophones, hats and dark glasses, they have made the case for an award for ‘Most Entertaining Performance’ next year! Manor were placed third with a stirring performance of Queen’s Somebody to love. Audrey N impressed, making her debut as a conductor and inspiring her singers in rousing chorus.

There were many other stand-out performances from the other Houses too: Handford’s incredibly dynamic singing of Treblemakers Finals with memorable solos from Annika F and Louisa V and, of course, Teme’s bow ties and Gibbs’ mobile torches in the semi-darkness made a real impression! Well done to all for making the afternoon such a wonderful celebration of singing.

The Finals Concert, always one of the highlights in the Lancing music calendar, featured all the open solo winners as well as the duet and ensemble finalists. There was also another chance to hear Field’s winning House Song performance of From now on. The evening began in the Chapel with two movements of Mendelssohn’s Second Organ Sonata performed by Benjamin I-C who appeared several times in the evening as trombone and counter-tenor soloist, as well as duet and ensemble singer.

The variety of repertoire amongst the open soloists was fantastic, from Megan T’s energetic drumming of Mark Ronson’s Uptown Funk, to Marnix H’s stylish and expressive clarinet playing in Schumann’s Fantasiestucke. Grace S’s violin playing in John Williams’s Remembrances from Schindler’s List was sublime and her playing on the night was ‘highly commended’. This year’s open solo winner was Kelly N with a virtuosic, fluent and stylish account of Schubert’s Impromptu in B flat.

The Duet Final was fiercely contested between Baroque fireworks from violin duo Grace S and Amelie L; Schubert’s magisterial Fantasia in F minor played by piano duettists Kristy W and Vivi L; the wonderfully evocative Fleeting Time performed by violin and piano duo Charmain F and Alexia Y. In the end the sublime vocal mediation that is Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater sung by Inigo AB and Benjamin I-C was awarded first place this year for its style and poise.

Two trios battled it out for the ensemble trophy: Christian T, Isaac H and Chris C have become a formidable chamber music force this year and played a sensitive account of Frank Bridge’s Minuet for piano trio. However, this year’s winners with an exquisite performance of recording quality were Kiara N, Isabel M and Benjamin I-C singing Suscepit Israel from Bach’s Magnificat.

John Mountford, Director of Music at The King’s School Rochester, gave a terrific adjudication and commented ‘It was a great evening and the standard was exceptional’. With all the scores in, the overall result revealed – Manor were crowned overall winners of the 2023 competition with Gibbs’ a very close runner-up.

Alexander Mason, Director of Music