Yesterday evening, staff (past and present), pupils, parents and members of the wider St Columba’s community came together to celebrate the musical life of the School at the Silver Tablet.
First awarded in 1917, the Silver Tablet is a musical competition open to members of SVI who have achieved Grade 8 in their chosen instrument and is a highlight of the School’s musical calendar.
The Class of 2024 produced a bumper crop of exceptional young musicians, with five competitors taking to the stage: Callum H (bassoon), Kirsty H (pianoforte), Emily B (clarinet), Sophie R (pianoforte) and Sasha C (clarinet)
Each competitor put together a programme designed to showcase their talents (and entertain the audience). The programme for the evening was as follows:
Callum H – Bassoon
Deux Pieces for Bassoon and Piano Jean Francaix
Sonata in F Major for Bassoon
and Basso Continuo Francois Devienne
Kirsty H – Pianoforte
Fantasia in C# Minor Frederick Chopin
Blue Air from ‘Colour Suite’ Madeline Dring
Prelude in C# Minor Sergei Rachmaninoff
Bumble Boogie Jack Fina
Emily B – Clarinet
Una Lagrima Sulla Tomba dell’immortale Rossini Ernesto Cavallini
Three Pieces for Solo Clarinet Igor Stravinsky
Solo De Concours Henri Rabaud
Sophie R – Pianoforte
Scherzo Humoristique: Le chat et la souris Aaron Copland
I. Moderato from Sonata in D Major, Hob XVI:19 Josef Haydn
Elegy Op. 3 No. 1 Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sasha C – Clarinet
Czardas Vittorio Monti
Fantasy Pieces (Movements 2 and 3) Robert Shumann
Following the performances, adjudicator Mr Charles Keenan was left in the unenviable position of choosing a winner. Mr Keenan, who remarked that he had paid a lot of money to watch concerts by musicians a lot less skilled, was torn between two performances in particular and, in the end, was unable (and unwilling) to separate the two. He awarded the Silver Tablet to both Emily B and Sophie R.
Our thanks go to Mr Charles Keenan for taking the time to adjudicate for us, Mr Ed Cohen for expertly accompanying Callum, Emily and Sasha, our tremendous Music department – particularly Miss Jackson, who only joined us after Easter but worked tirelessly to ensure that the evening ran without a hitch – and Mr McLaughlin for compering with his usual panache.
