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43 Merchant Taylors’ Prep School Newsletter - 25.03.2022 MTP Music Merchant Taylors’ Company Hall Concert 2022 On Monday 28th February, the Music Department took seven of our boys into London to perform in the annual Merchant Taylors’ Hall Concert. We were represented at this event by our Choristers and Chamber Music Society, who performed alongside a number of other ensembles and choirs from Merchant Taylors’ School and St John’s. The Chamber Music Society – coached by our ‘cello teacher Mrs Smith – played during the first half of the concert. Their graceful and poised performance of the ‘Minuet’ from Frank Bridge’s Miniatures for Violin, ‘Cello and Piano: Set 1 demonstrated true stylistic understanding and allowed the boys to show off their impressive ensemble skills. This was followed later in the concert by our Choristers, who are coached by our singing teacher, Mr Saunderson. For their performance, Choristers chose two works from the English Renaissance: Past Time With Good Company by Henry VIII (sometimes known as “The King’s Ballad”) and John Dowland’s Come Again . Not only did the boys sing in up to four contrapuntal parts in places – an impressive feat in of itself – but they did so a cappella throughout, and with a confidence and vitality that commanded the attention of all present. The evening was a huge success and an unforgettable experience for our boys. Their performances of technically and expressively challenging repertoire, executed with great aplomb, represented an exceptionally high level of music-making, and we are extremely proud of them.