Corfe House’s night of glory

10 Aug 2020

It was a triumph – for College and especially for Corfe House.

The Christ’s College Parents’ Association House Music Festival returned to the Christchurch Town Hall for the first time in 10 years on Thursday 6 August, and Corfe House made no mistake about dominating the night.

It took out three of the four categories on offer, with Condell’s in hot pursuit. In fact, adjudicator Sarah Lowe, Director of Music at The Cathedral Grammar School, said there was just one point between the two Houses for the inaugural award of Parents’ Association Overall Winner.

The packed town hall was right behind the performers, enthusiastically supporting every choir and ensemble as the programme unfolded.

The Big Band set the tone from the outset, fresh from its silver success at JazzQuest the previous weekend. Director Claire Oliver led the band through “A Song for You” and “The Defibrillator”.

What followed without any interval, was the kind of musical experience College boys love. Spirited renditions, some with action accompanying the lyrics, and all delivered with real panache. The audience loved the energy and the vibe.

There was everything from School House’s “Piano Man” with Daniel Qi on piano, Charlie Hanson conducting and Ben Davis on harmonica, to Rolleston House’s “Hooked on a Feeling”with George Lill conducting, Oscar Aynsley and Josh Ford on guitar, Tim Stewart on bass guitar and Ethan Grant on drums.

And for the first time ever, School House had a small vocal ensemble competing, singing Lennon and McCartney’s “Blackbird”.

Richards House choir’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi had the whole school on its feet in support when the air conditioning system gently blew the sheets of music out of pianist Oscar Gosling’s reach. In fact, the adjudicator gave the choir five bonus points for working so well together despite the unforeseen occurrence.

Jacobs House choir also got a shout out from Sarah, for their performance of “I’ll Be There for You” – in particular, the choruses.

She said she had been looking for musicality, articulation and a sense of engagement with the audience and she complimented all the choirs for their efforts.

Results

Mr & Mrs CC Moore Choral Plate for the Best Small Vocal Ensemble

1st – Corfe, “Most Beautiful Girl in the Room” by Flight of the Conchords (arr. Dominic Edmond) Dominic Edmond, Josh Ratulomai, Ryan Primus, James Griffin, Sam Barnett, John Wong, Henry Mossman
2nd – Condell’s
3rd – Somes