Summer 2025 Junior Concert is a Showcase of Young Musical Talent at Lancing

On 21 May, we heard an array of Third and Fourth Form musicians perform in an impressive and entertaining concert. Sinfonia, directed by Miss Emilie Harlow, opened the concert with three musical items well-known to all. The Galop from William Tell and Risk Everything for a Dream was followed by a musical medley from Disney’s infamous The Lion King which brought great joy to the audience. The concert then continued with solo items for a range of instruments and genres to suit all. 

Misery Business by Paramore was a key highlight of the evening. The band gave an enjoyable and energetic performance with strong vocals from Tatiana H and guitar and drums from Alan M, William S and Ethan F. The transition to a calming feel was produced by two acoustic solo guitarists – Francis R and Thomas R, who both performed with great technical control. 

Isla KH gave a committed performance of Faure’s Sicilienne with a clear tone and exceptional breath control on the flute. A flowing saxophone solo by Freddie W, perfectly captured the character of the Waltz and transported the audience into a dancing mood with Valse Vanite. He performed with technical flair and ease. To complete the woodwind and brass performances, Xander G gave a vibrant performance on the trumpet producing a rich sound playing Aria.

Third Form multi-musician Beatrice de Courcy-White sang Bellini’s Vaga Luna with ease and a strong upper register demonstrating quality beyond her years. This led onto another vocal solo by Tatiana, having performed earlier in the concert with the band. She had the opportunity to sing as a soloist and showed character and a strong sense of feeling with the song She Used to be Mine from the musical Waitress.

Three violin performances followed – with all three Fourth Form violinists playing with a clear tone and secure intonation. Winston C gave a compelling performance of Fritz Kreisler’s Variations on a Theme by Corelli. Another resonant violin solo followed with Liana Antwi playing Reigan with accurate intonation. 

A highlight of the evening was Clarissa C playing Stravinsky’s Suite Italienne of violin and piano. This was a confident performance, attacking the double stops with commitment and playing with a sense of flair. 

To finish off the evening, a variation of music for piano was presented by talented Fourth Form pianists who all demonstrated great technical skill. With items by Liszt and Beethoven, Jude G and Candace W both gave captivating performances. Samuel B followed on, playing Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee with impressive dexterity. 

The penultimate performance from Alex Gi was unique and engaging, demonstrating his compositional skill and ability to improvise creating a range of versatile sounds. Mika C closed the concert with great flair as she showcased her musical ability with Chopin’s Mazurka Op.17 No.4. This varied and enjoyable concert was not one to be missed. All performances demonstrated the immense talent there is amongst the younger pupils at Lancing College and the important part music plays in school life.

Written by Francesca Shannon, Graduate Music Assistant