Sarah Ibberson

29th April 2016: Last week's Cake Concert

Well done to everyone who performed at last Sunday's Cake Concert at Concord College. We were treated to wonderful performances on violin and piano, including TWO world premieres (pieces performed and written by our very own Douglas Stewart and Richard Powell) from everyone from young beginners to experienced Grade 8-ers. Wonderful stuff all round!

Learning to play in front of a live audience is a terrifically important part of being a musician. In particular, learning that when you play live something almost always goes wrong (often something that's never gone wrong before!) and finding a way to keep on going. Every musician experiences this, however experienced they are. I thought you all did wonderfully - noone stopped, noone pulled any 'I just made a huge mistake' faces, and from the comments that came in during the week I can tell you with confidence that the audience DIDN'T NOTICE the mistakes. They just thought you were all wonderful.

And as if that warm glow wasn't enough, the collection for Severn Hospice raised £66.50 - our best total yet! Not bad for an afternoon eating cake...

Rose's dad has sent through a couple of photos, which I have put on the new Gallery page. Have a look! If anyone else has any they'd like to share, do email them across.

1st April 2016: Exam results this week...

Another set of fantastic results announced this week: merits of 127 apiece for Rose Hadley in her Grade 4 violin and for Alexa Newman in her Grade 8 violin. Congratulations to both Rose and Alexa on their well-deserved successes!

19th March 2016: Live Arts Festival

Congratulations to all those who took part in this year's Live Arts Festival. As ever the competition was pretty stiff, but you all performed brilliantly and bravely and I'm really proud of you all. Special mentions to our medal-winners Paddy and Abigael Russell (gold medal, intermediate duo), Archie Henderson (bronze medal, intermediate solo), Rebekah Kay (silver medal, senior solo), Flori Outram (bronze medal, primary piano) and - although he's not my pupil he lives in my house and I'm VERY proud - Ted Ibberson (gold medal, primary brass).