REPTON CELEBRATE COMPOSER RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS WITH CONCERT AT CHATSWORTH

It was an honour for Repton and Repton Prep musicians to perform in Chatsworth’s iconic Painted Hall on Monday 10 October 2022 in celebration of the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, whose 150th birthday would have been this week.

Solos and ensembles were performed by pupils from both schools and Repton singers performed songs by Vaughan Williams while instrumentalists played pieces such as The Lark Ascending and Fantasia on Greensleeves.

Ralph Vaughan Williams was not only a composer of the utmost importance for English music but also one of the great symphonists of the 20th century. Hardly a musical genre was untouched or failed to be enriched by his work. This included nine symphonies, concertos for piano, violin, oboe and tuba, five operas, chamber, ballet and film music, a large body of songs and song cycles, and various important unaccompanied and orchestral choral works.

Repton’s Director of Music, Oliver Walker, expressed his gratitude to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire for allowing Repton the opportunity to perform in such a wonderful setting: “It was a very great privilege to perform at Chatsworth and to give our support to The Chatsworth House Trust. To perform in such a setting is a rare thing, made richer through our celebration of a talented composer.

The personality and music of Vaughan Williams reaches into the very heart of Englishness; I doubt there is a more fitting venue to perform this timeless music. Repton and Repton Prep pupils, staff, and the team at Chatsworth worked so hard to make the performance possible – thank you all for your energy and spirit.”

Learn more about the music programme at Repton