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24 November 2020
Never let a pandemic stand in the way of a good performance.
Kilgraston’s Saint Cecilia Concert is an annual showcase of pupils’ musical talent held on the anniversary of the death, in 230AD, of the patron saint of music and musicians. But 2020 proved to be an even greater challenge than usual to ensure that the show must go on.
“To adhere to current Covid restrictions, we were limited to group humming, solo singing behind screens and wind and brass recording their parts separately,” said Jason McAuley, Director of Music, “Despite pupils not being able to play in the Chapel in full groups together though, they came up with something extraordinary.”
Junior Strings, Chamber Choir Clarsach Ensemble, String Quartet and newly formed St Cecilia Ensemble performed a selection of traditional, pop, classical and show music. Additionally, talented young soloists performed, socially-distanced Vivaldi, Saint-Saens and music from Schindler’s List and Frozen.
“Individual rehearsals and recordings have taken place since Half Term,” explains McAuley, “It’s been an enormous challenge but the girls rose admirably to the occasion and it just proves that you have to be resilient and flexible in life and that there is usually a way through a problem.”
The pre-recorded, three-quarters-of-an-hour recital was uploaded to the School’s Facebook page at the traditional time of 7pm on the Sunday evening and is now available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/DABKLZuPQKM
