The young musicians practising under the direction of College music master Ian Holiday

Record numbers at Prep Schools Strings Day

Some 117 young musicians came to the College this week to play as an orchestra at the third annual Prep Schools Strings Day.

Reflecting the depth of commitment to all types of music at Epsom, the highly successful event, hosted by Director of Music, Graeme Lodge, brought together strings players of all abilities from beginner to Grade 7 for a day of rehearsals, culminating in a concert for parents, teachers and guests.

This year's event was attended by pupils from 10 prep schools - Broomwood Hall, Cumnor House, Danes Hill, Feltonfleet, Homefield, Kingswood House, Northcote Lodge, Papplewick, St Andrew's Woking and Willington.

During the morning sessions, the pupils from Years 3 to 6 rehearsed in Big School, playing a variety of string instruments from violin and viola to cello and double bass.

Practising with fellow musicians from different schools under the direction of College music master Ian Holiday proved highly beneficial. For many of the young performers, this was the first time they had played in such a large orchestra.

Following lunch in Main Hall with their teachers, the children were treated to a concert given by Epsom College pupils, which was extremely impressive, with superb performances from Aidan Smith, Seb Lim, Charles Ashie, Clare Williams, Babu Ocan, Edafe Sowole-James, Bryan Lao and Juyeon Oh.

Afternoon tea for parents and guests in Main Hall followed before the youngsters gave their own performance in Big School.

Parents, teachers and guests in the large audience were impressed by the high standard of the concert as the children played music from a wide ranging repertoire they had practised earlier in the day, including The Hunting Horn Song by Leopold Mozart, Edward McDowell's To A Wild Rose, La Spagnola Waltz by Vincenzo di Chiara and Anton Wallerstein's Jenny Lind Polka.