School Concerts

School Band - pencil drawing by Nigel A JAMES

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High School Notes!

School musical events are famous for their unusual “interpretations” of famous works, and, last week, my son’s school, which is in Vienna, didn’t only come up with all of the regular (as if planned) surprises, it also provided for a gem of a moment that will stay for a very long time!

The evening performed according to plan, and, according to tradition, this now annual event gained a few more degrees of excellence, making it even better than those which had gone before. And, with its super mix of performing scholars and staff, it was much more than talent that was waiting to happen.

And, as the programme progressed, so, too, did the standard of singing and playing.

But, as always, it’s the very small things that provide for the memories that people go home with, and, this year’s surprise came after the music had finished.

We had just been treated to some magical soulful moments of Viennese music when it happened. Still in its trance and with tears of joy in their eyes, it took the audience a moment or two to come-to and realize that the music had actually finished and that it was time to applaud. But they didn’t because they couldn’t!

The scene had been taken over by a drama that was holding us all in its grip!

Whilst standing up to bow, one of the violinists, a girl of 15, discovered that her violin wouldn’t let her go. It had become entangled in her left ear-ring – and - it wasn’t about to release her!

Ignoring the audience, the other members of this small group of musicians, a girl on the piano, another girl on the second violin, and two gentlemen maths teachers with many years to their credit, began seriously trying to liberate this young girl of music from her now vicious and biting 4 stringed toothless normally beautiful instrument.

Of course, it only took them about 90 seconds to free this poor girl, and then, all being well, the audience, myself included, erupted into a body of unified thanks! The musicians, too, were thankful, and so, in order to show it, they sat down again and treated us all to a perfect conclusion, a wonderful encore, one I will never forget!

And, that’s what this evening was. A night of fulfilled expectations – an evening of beauty, and the experiencing of something so rare, that it connected - so fully - the souls and the hearts of everyone present!

nj.

diarikom@gmail.com