What an amazing success! There was some doubt, and panic, at times as to whether this event would be able to go ahead and be as successful as it has been in the past. There was clearly no need to worry! 

All four houses put together programmes that included six different performances, linked by a theme. Students from year 7 through to year 13 worked together in fantastic collaboration. All four houses presented fun, vibrant and energetic House Choir pieces. 

Soloists that stood out included Matthew Chestney’s very ‘cool’ rendition of My Funny Valentine, Evie McShane singing Lost Boy, Cam Davis singing and playing guitar for his version of Welcome To Wonderland and then, of course, Oscar Harrison’s performance of FaceTime With My Mom! I think lots of us could all relate to those lyrics in some shape or form. Another beautiful instrumental solo came from Emma Lythgoe playing Consider Yourself from Oliver on piano. 

Judging this competition is always a challenge. This year, second, third and fourth were very close. However, unusually, there was a clear winner – by a significant margin. Graveney House’s theme was ABBA. Their programme, obviously, consisted of six ABBA tracks: Super Trouper, Slipping Through My Fingers, SOS, Fernando, When I Kissed the Teacher, and, their House Choir song, Mama Mia. It was impossible to fault their performance, brilliantly compered by Bethany Nye. The sixth form leaders Rosie Brooks, David Copestake, and Bethany did a tremendous job and got lots of students involved. Jessica Abiona’s Slipping Through My Fingers was just tear-jerking. Bradley Preen joined forces with Isabel Hutson and Rose Hanfrey to do a brilliant performance of SOS and Roisin Swift’s Fernando was also stunning. The other items were performed superbly by the sixth form team who also lead the House Choir for Mama Mia. There are four year 10 gentlemen, Alex Foster, Alex Moore, Charlie Houston and Barney Vacher who some staff will never see in the same light again! As a result, for the first time ever, the Highlights Concert consisted of a first half including three performances each from Foley, Selvey and Ottewell. The second half saw the whole of the Graveney programme – it was impossible to cut anything from it and it would have been so unfair. 

Massive congratulations to ALL those who took part and a special thanks to all the sixth former leaders who took on this challenge and succeeded so well. 

Helen Chong

Director of Music