Ashford School Launches 125th Anniversary Celebrations in Style!

Following months of intense rehearsals and planning, the Ashford School community came together to entertain over 200 guests at a sell-out Celebration Concert, which saw us launch our 125th anniversary in style!

Our Music Department has a particularly poignant role to play in honouring our rich and fascinating heritage. The concert looked forward to the bright future of music at Ashford School, whilst also taking pause to reflect upon the important traditions of years gone by.

Performances during the first half of the night included:

• The Senior & Junior Recorder Ensembles combining to perform ‘Carriage & Pair’ by Brian Bonsor
• The Senior Guitar Quartet performing Fiesta by our very own Guitar Teacher David Green
• The String Sinfonia performing Purcell’s ‘Rondeau’ from the Abdelazer Suite, arranged by our Violin Teacher Karen Joliffe
• The Prep School Choir delighted us with a performance of Adiemus by Karl Jenkins, which they sung entirely from memory!
• The Saxophone Quartet performed Welcome Dance by Karen Street followed by the Ashford School Jazz Band performing ‘Superstition’ by Stevie Wonder
• AJYO rounded off the first half with a rendition of St Thomas by Sonny Rollins and Birdland by Joe Zawinul

The second half featured the Senior & Training Orchestra uniting to perform an arrangement of Childhood School Hymns, arranged by two of our Sixth Form students, Tom R & Will W. Hugely clever and entertaining, tunes featured in this compilation included favourites such as ‘Sing Hosanna’, ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ and ‘One More Step Along the World we Go’!

This was followed by the grand finale and highlight of the evening – Vivaldi’s Gloria, featuring over 250 musicians including students, parents, grandparents, staff, former staff and members of our alumni. An event for the history books.

Congratulations to all those who participated, and huge thanks to our Music Department staff, without whom this event would not have been possible.

We look forward to continuing the 125th anniversary celebrations throughout the year and very much welcome as many guests to join us at any one of our upcoming events. For further information and a list of events, please click here.