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On Friday 7 February, the Finals Concert of the 2025 House Music Competition took place, following two days of intensive competition and over 250 entries in solo, duet and ensemble categories featuring all of Lancing’s varied instrumentalists and singers.
This year’s winners of the House Singing Competition, Field’s, opened the concert with a superb rendition of ‘Slipping through my fingers’ by Abba. Confident solos, ensemble singing and well-worked harmony were ably supported by a classy house band of Emily L on piano, Alyona V on drums and Elisabeth RH on saxophone.
Next followed the seven winners of their respective instrumental and vocal finals, all competing for the Christopher Headington Cup. Maria N gave a breathtaking performance of ‘Oh! quante volte’ from Bellini’s ‘I Capuleti e I Montecchi’. She sang with effortless freedom and control, gliding between sections with unaccompanied recitative with superb intonation and expression. Elisabeth RH, on clarinet, performed the final movement of Brahms’s Sonata in F minor with panache. Next, Lucien S showed off his stylish brass playing in Rimsky-Korsakov’s epic Trombone Concerto followed by some virtuoso bass guitar playing by Daniel I in YYZ by Rush. Matthew L’s dexterity on the marimba was flawless and the audience was captivated by his performance of ‘Centipede’ by Christopher Swist. Grace S wowed the audience with ‘Scène de Ballet’ by Beriot with a truly bravura performance with musicianship and expression in abundance. The youngest finalist was Mika C, 4F, playing the ferociously difficult ‘Gnomenreigen’ by Franz Lizst. The adjudicator James Lark, Director of Music at Westminster Abbey Choir School, expressed astonishment that one so young should be attempting a piece like this, let alone bringing it off with such style!
James Lark gave a superb adjudication, praising the young performers for their energy and commitment. This year’s open solo winner, receiving the Christopher Headington Cup, was Maria N, with Grace S highly commended and Matthew L commended.
In the duet final, Maria N and Izzy M won with ‘De torrente’ from Handel’s Dixit Dominus with a performance of professional quality. Honk! our illustrious saxophone quartet were crowned ensemble winners for their polished playing of a ‘Mary Poppins’ medley.
Inigo AB won this year’s Peter Davis Cup for his superb contribution to the contribution and in particular encouraging so many fellow pupils in Gibbs’ to enter the competition.
Taking into account points accumulated over the three sessions of the competition, from the House Singing Competition in October, the Rock and Pop Competition in December and the last three days, Gibbs’ House emerged victorious with a commanding lead and 528 points. Fields’ were worthy runners-up with 450. Above all well done to everyone who has taken part and for demonstrating such enjoyment with their music making.