Scotch College

Vive le String!

WORDS: Mr JAMES de ROZARIO − HEAD OF STRINGS AND GUITAR

Scotch College and Haileybury College recently collaborated to workshop some wonderful compositions in the superb environment of the Ian Roach Hall

The Henri Touzeau String Orchestra visited Haileybury in 2008 and everyone enjoyed a magnificent morning of music. It was wonderful to be able to extend a return invitation to Haileybury for 2009. Bringing together nearly 110 students on stage was no mean feat, especially as Haileybury brought together students from their three separate campuses. It was the first time many of their students had played together as a single Haileyburian string orchestra.

Henri Touzeau Strings performed a wide variety of music including a selection of Leroy Anderson pieces, part of the Capriol Suite (by Warlock) and performed for the first time The Best of Queen.

A workshop of March of the Meistersingers by Wagner followed, and the work was chosen as it provided a wonderful opportunity for an enormous combined string orchestra to fill the hall with a warm string sound. All students worked hard at articulation, tone production and phrasing and their ability to watch the conductor. A standing ovation from Scotch and Haileybury staff was a true indication of the hard work that all participants had employed to bring justice to a fantastic acoustic as well as to a wonderfully musical work. GS