Cornwall Music Festival

Truro School has had a fantastic week at this year’s Cornwall Music Festival, with a record number of pupils participating from both the Prep and Senior Schools.

The week began with a group of extremely talented poetry performers taking to the stage in the Wesley Hall at Truro Methodist Church.

Prep was represented by 14 pupils, who received feedback from the adjudicator Eleanor Mcleod that was both laudatory and constructive. Their performances were polished from the moment they introduced themselves to how they performed and then thanked all the people involved. They were courteous, confident performers who were a credit to themselves and the School.

A total of 12 pupils from the Senior School’s 1st-3rd years also competed in the Verse Speaking class. They chose, rehearsed and performed a wide variety of poems, and also all received fantastic feedback from the adjudicator.

It was then the turn of the Choirs and the Musicians who achieved further success. On Wednesday, the Prep Orchestra directed by Mr MacQuarrie took part in the Junior Schools Instrumental Ensemble competition for the first time. They performed their three pieces (‘Theme Tune to the Muppets’, ‘An Dufunyans’ and ‘Theme’ from Handel’s ‘Water Music’) beautifully and looked and sounded very slick and polished. All players had put in a huge amount of time and effort after school in rehearsals leading up to this event.

On Thursday, the Prep Choir, consisting of 37 singers in Years 5 and 6, took part in two competitions. Directed by Ms Renshaw, and accompanied by one of our piano teachers Mr Carne, the choir competed in two classes: the Hymn and Folk Song class (singing ‘I the Lord of Sea and Sky’ and’ Nine Brave Boys’, a Cornish folk song arranged by Ms Renshaw) followed by the Junior Schools Choral class (singing ‘Stars’ and ‘Icarus’).

The choir sang extremely well; they were confident and clear, with lots of lovely expression and good technique. The adjudicator commented that they performed “as one with many voices working together”. Truro School Prep was placed first in both classes and presented with two shields, one of which is a beautiful copper shield dating back to 1915. This was the first time the choir had competed in this festival since 2018 and so it was a pleasing return to this type of occasion.

Singers and musicians from the Senior School also performed brilliantly, picking up a raft of awards. Our list of accolades was extensive, a handful of which include Kes, who picked up first place in the vocal class ‘Any piece from Grade 8 or Diploma Syllabus’, and a distinction with his brother Pax in the Duet Class as the ‘Brothers Mcdowell’. And Natalie, who took a fabulous first place, in a challenging category (three contrasted songs from different musical periods) that was peopled entirely by TS pupils: Oriel B, Celia G, Pax and Natalie, who represented the school beautifully, singing in English, German and Italian between them.

A huge well done to all of our talented performers; it was a phenomenal showcase of the courage, confidence and talent our students and pupils across both sites have in abundance. Thanks to all of the staff and helpers who made the week possible.