Welcome to the Summer concert.

Our varied programme this evening pays tribute to the

sustained commitment of the Upper Third year performers who will leaving at the end of
next week. I am sure that their musical talents will flourish when they move on and I will be
excited to hear about their next musical successes in the months and years to come. I would
like to thank them all for their huge contributions to the school community and wish them
every success.

All of our performers this evening lead exceptionally busy lives, yet that have all found the
time to attend rehearsals and work hard practising on their own. There are musicians in our
troupe this evening who attend more than five rehearsals a week and I feel inspired as a
musician and teacher to witness the results of this exceptional dedication. These inspired
young musicians have a huge appetite for all genres and the repertoire choices tonight are
as varied as the talent required to do them justice.

Tonight we have virtuosic soloists who have worked tirelessly with their teachers, a duet that
developed in a collaboration with an SPS mentor, two trios and some of our regular
ensembles playing music from a staggering range of genres. There are also appearances by
some of our younger performers who constantly remind me that the future of SPJ music
making is thrilling! There really is something for everyone this evening and I hope that you
enjoy it all.

As my first year at SPJ nears its end, I would like to sincerely thank all of the people who have
supported the music department, helping the boys to experience music making that
stretches their abilities and delights their audiences, be it in cathedrals, classrooms or
anywhere in-between. All of this requires support from parents, administrators, teachers
and students alike. This special collaboration means we are able to aim high and I am very
excited about our bright and musical future together.

I wish you all a restful summer. Please encourage your boys dust off their instruments from
time to time. Here’s to a musical September.