Review by Sarah Lloyd
Chetham’s School of Music made a warmly welcomed visit to Ripon Concerts’ 25/26 series, delighting a diverse audience of younger listeners and regular concert-goers alike. The programme offered a rich musical journey, spanning Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Twentieth-Century repertoire, and included works drawn from the GCSE and A-level music syllabuses.
The concert opened with a rousing trumpet concerto by Purcell, performed by the outstanding young trumpeter Taffy Ng. She demonstrated remarkable control of the piccolo trumpet, producing a brilliant upper-register sound and negotiating intricate passagework with ease. Switching to the B flat trumpet, she performed a lesser-known showpiece by Brandt, dazzling the audience with her technique and crisp articulation. Awarded a full scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music next year, Taffy is sure to become a regular presence in classical concert programmes.
Lithuanian flautist Greta Vedrickaite followed with J. S. Bach’s Suite in B minor, thrilling the audience in the final Badinerie with rapid tempos and elegant embellishments. She later performed Honegger’s Danse de la chèvre and the first and last movements of Prokofiev’s Flute Sonata, pieces that showcased her fiery character and expressive versatility. Greta will continue her studies next year at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Continuing the Baroque theme, 13-year-old violinist Chloe offered a confident account of the first movement of Bach’s Violin Concerto in A minor, contrasted with a lyrical performance of Amy Beach’s Romance. Recorder player Matilda Bridgman impressed with extracts from Vivaldi’s colourful Goldfinch Concerto and a sensitive interpretation of Philippe Rombi’s Nocturne. Both young performers displayed poise and maturity well beyond their years.
The concert concluded with two outstanding singers, mezzo-soprano Grace McQuillan and baritone Gabriel Rhodes, presenting extracts from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni. Grace’s performance of “Non so più” by Mozart was captivating, while her rendition of Brahms’ “Alte Liebe” highlighted her emotional depth and rich sound. Gabriel charmed with Mozart's “Non più andrai” and Quilter’s “Go, Lovely Rose”, before they both united in a thrilling duet of “La ci darem la mano”, bringing the house down. Both 18-year-olds, who have earned substantial scholarships to the Royal Academy of Music, displayed remarkable confidence and stage presence, promising bright futures in opera.
Throughout the concert, staff members Nick Oliver, Assistant Principal and Head of Accompaniment, and pianist Gemma Webster accompanied the students beautifully, providing sensitive and supportive musical partnership for all the performers.
The concert was a joyous celebration of young talent, technical mastery, and expressive musicality—a truly memorable afternoon for Ripon Concerts audiences.
Photo credit © Sara Porter