MUSIC: A jazz night to remember

The delights of our Jazz Evening were accompanied by a sad farewell, says sixth former CLARA DAMMANN, who reports on a very special night at Ripon Grammar School

WITH a wide variety of pieces and ensembles, Ripon Grammar School's Jazz Evening was testament to the abundance of talent within the music department.

Big Band delighted the audience with their lively performance of It Don’t Mean a Thing (Ellington arr. Nowak), and Fly Me to the Moon (Howard arr. Nowak), one of the night’s many references to the upcoming 50th anniversary commemorating man’s first step on the moon. Their rendition of Mr Zoot Suit was the perfect accompaniment to soloist Emma Belward, who displayed artistry beyond her years. Big Band continued seamlessly with Spinning Wheel (Thomas arr. Nowak) and Stella by Starlight (Young arr. Nowak).

Brass Ensemble took to the stage with a medley of Poker Face and Bad Romance (Lady Gaga), adding a modern flavour to the night. Musicality augmented this with their beguiling performance of Someone in the Crowd (Hurwitz arr. Steeper).

Man Choir strayed from the jazzy, spirited pattern of the evening, performing a haunting interpretation of Bye Bye Blackbird (Henderson). The ensuing tranquil ambience served as a perfect transition into a lively impromptu performance of Shenandoah. Although it wasn’t strictly in keeping with the programme, Mr Seymour explained that he felt he couldn’t say no to a group of young men who were so intent on singing.

Percussion Ensemble’s arrangement of Seven Nation Army (White arr. Fallows) provided the audience with a performance that was both musically and visually enjoyable. The Jazz Quartet (which tends to rehearse in a “quintessentially jazzy way”) was up next, with their smooth rendition of I’ve Got You Under My Skin (Porter) and stirring vocals by Harry Edwards, a talented sixth former who has been awarded a choral scholarship. Their combined efforts earned them rapturous applause, no doubt motivating Jazz Quartet’s inspiring performance of A Night in Tunisia (Gillespie).

After a short interval, Wind Band effortlessly re-captured the mood with I Wanna Be Like You (R&R Sherman arr. John Berry). Like Musicality, Guitar Ensemble selected a piece from the Golden Globe nominated film, La La Land, performing a triumphant rendition of City of Stars (Hurwitz arr. Steeper).

Senior Girls’ Choir paid an emotional tribute to Mr Seymour with an acapella arrangement of And so it Goes by Billy Joel. The talented Jessica Parnell, a seasoned performer in school productions, provided the vocals to Jazz Quartet’s performance of  My Funny Valentine.

Jazz Quartet closed with an accomplished rendition of Doxy (Rollins). RGS’s prize-winning Chamber Choir then took to the stage, with an intricate performance of Blue Moon (Rodgers/Hart arr. Blackwell).

A highlight of the evening was the awarding of music colours to some of RGS’s talented musicians (see full list of names, further below), all so well-deserved.

Big Band returned to round off the eventful night with an exultant performance of The Chicken (Ellis arr. Berg). Their following pieces - I Remember You (V.Schertzinger arr. Holmes) and Bewitched (Rodgers/Hart arr. Taylor) - were accompanied by the mellifluous solos of Elizabeth Calland Brooke and Jess Parnell, respectively. Their final pieces, Viva la Vida (Coldplay arr. Holmes) and Superstition, (Stevie Wonder arr. Murtha) succeeded in creating a fitting finale to a wonderful evening.

However, the delights of the evening were accompanied by a very sad farewell. This was the last concert organised by Mr Seymour, our director of music, as he will sadly be leaving us at the end of the year to take up the position of director of music at Ampleforth College. (Those students don’t know how lucky they are!)

Mr Seymour emphasised the importance of music in the education and development of young people, which has evidently been imparted to his students at Ripon Grammar. In his final address, he told parents: “Your children are incredible.” Yet it is we who recognise how incredible Mr Seymour is. During his time at Ripon Grammar, he has developed the music department, almost trebling the number of music ensembles and choirs.

Many students have paid tribute to Mr Seymour, and as Harry Edwards said: “What an honour it has been to be taught by him! It's not really worth thinking about what my and many others' school careers would have been without Mr Seymour's transformative influence on the music department. His boundless, infectious enthusiasm has helped so many of us to participate actively in school life and has genuinely changed some of our lives.”

Jess Parnell added: “It was kind of a bitter sweet evening for me. I loved performing but I knew it was my last concert as I’m leaving to study performing arts in September. I will really miss the music department and all the opportunities it has provided. I can’t put into words how grateful I am to Mr Seymour for everything he has done. I really look up to him and I wish him the absolute best for the future.”

Our new head girl, Emma Belward concluded:  “It was a very special night and the perfect way to round off our last year with Mr Seymour at RGS. I had so much fun performing my first jazz solo and singing with the choir. It was great to see so many students across all year groups come together and perform brilliantly, to a packed audience.”

Just a few of the 'reviews' from parents and friends of Ripon Grammar School on social media, below. Thank you to all who commented:

"It was fantastic. Well done to all and thank you, Ripon Grammar School"

"A fantastic jazz evening last night. The bands and singers are a credit to the school and to Mr Seymour. Wishing him the best in his new position. It's blatant he'll be sorely missed."

"A great night. Well done to all who took part. And well done to the award winners too."

"Brilliant, as always."

"Wonderful"

"Can't tell you how proud I am of Callum. He and his sister Cayla performed for us at the Ripon Together evening, launching our cycling event last week. They were both magnificent. Callum even gave up his prom to perform for us."

"It was fantastic, well done to all and thank you, Ripon Grammar School!"

Recipients of Full Colours

Geordan Branton Man Choir/Chamber Choir

Harry Canning Man Choir/Chamber Choir

Lewis Dunn Brass Ensemble/Big Band/Man Choir

Ralph Lockey Big Band (7 years)

Alfie McEvoy Man Choir/Chamber Choir

Ethan McMurray Big Band (7 years)

Macy Raine Senior Girls’ Choir/Chamber Choir

Anika Schwarze-Chintapatla Big Band/Chamber Orchestra/Piano Trio

Rafaella Shiers Big Band/Brass Ensemble/Senior Girls’ Choir/Chamber Choir

Recipients of Half Colours

George Appleyard Guitar Ensemble/Man Choir/Wind Band/Big Band/Chamber Choir/Percussion Ensemble

Sam Cann Chamber Orchestra/Man Choir/Chamber Choir

Joseph Davis Junior Man Choir/Man Choir/Chamber Choir

Emily Hodgson Musicality/Wind Band

Eva Scullion Wind Band/Brass Ensemble/Big Band/Musicality/Chamber Choir

Evie Sladden Junior String/Chamber Orchestra/Musicality/Wind Band/

Chamber Choir

Imogen Wren Musicality/Wind Band

Programme

Big Band

It Don’t Mean a Thing Ellington

arr. Nowak

Fly Me to the Moon Howard

arr. Nowak

Mr Zoot Suit (with Emma Belward) Cally

arr. Holmes

Spinning WheelThomas

arr.Nowak

Stella by Starlight Young

arr. Nowak

Brass Ensemble

Poker Face/Bad Romance Lady Gaga

Musicality

Someone in the Crowd Hurwitz

arr. Steeper

Man Choir

Bye Bye Blackbird Henderson

Percussion Ensemble

Seven Nation Army White

arr. Fallows

Jazz Quartet

I’ve got you under my skin (with Harry Edwards) Porter

A Night in Tunisia Gillespie

Awarding of Half Colours

Brief Interval

Wind Band

I Wanna Be Like You R&R Sherman

arr. John Berry

Guitar Ensemble

City of Stars Hurwitz

arr. Steeper

Senior Girls’ Choir

And So It Goes Joel

arr. Shaw

Jazz Quartet

My Funny Valentine (with Jessica Parnell) Rodgers

Doxy Rollins

Chamber Choir

Blue Moon Rodgers/Hart

arr. Blackwell

Awarding of Full Colours

Big Band

The Chicken Ellis

arr. Berg

I Remember You (with Elizabeth Calland Brooke) V.Schertzinger

arr. Holmes

Bewitched (with Jess Parnell) Rodgers/Hart

arr. Taylor

Viva La Vida Coldplay

arr. Holmes

Superstition Wonder

arr. Murtha

Comments from parents and friends of Ripon Grammar School on social media: "It was fantastic. Well done to all and thank you, Ripon Grammar School"

"A fantastic jazz evening last night. The bands and singers are a credit to the school and to Mr Seymour. Wishing him the best in his new position. It's blatant he'll be sorely missed."

"Brilliant, as always."

"Wonderful"

"Can't tell you how proud I am of Callum. He and his sister Cayla performed for us at the Ripon Together evening, launching our cycling event last week. They were both magnificent. Callum even gave up his prom to perform for us."