Andrew Smith, Photography Editor
The Immaculate Conception High School orchestra in performance at Devon House, St. Andrew, on Saturday. - PHOTOS BY ANDREW SMITH/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
ON SATURDAY night, the audience on the lawns of Devon House in St. Andrew was treated to a wide range of instrumental music compliments of the Immaculate Conception High School (ICHS) orchestra.
Under the baton of renowned classical musician Steve Woodham, and accompanied by Olga Moraguez on piano, the 65-piece orchestra spanned the musical spectrum for over an hour.
As would be expected from an orchestra under Woodham's direction, classical music was a staple of the programme. Such pieces included Puccini's Nessun Dorma, The Emperor Waltz by Johan Strauss II and a delightful medley Alla Tchaikovsky arranged by Richard Meyer.
The highlight of this genre was young Jodi-Ann Wray's violin solo in Jules Massenet's Meditation.
Also included were movie themes such as Henry Mancini's ever-popular Pink Panther and the well-received Theme from Spider Man by Harris & Webber.
Richard Rodgers' Blue Moon and The Syncopated Clock by Leroy Anderson were also enjoyed.
Contemporary music was represented by Enya's Only Time, and the international flavour of the programme was encapsulated in Robert W. Smith's Serengeti Dreams, Russian Soldiers Dance by Reinhold Gliere and a medley of Jamaican Gems presented by the ICHS Wind Ensemble.
It is encouraging to see that an orchestra composed primarily of high school girls was able to carry their audience through time, across continents and relive movie memories on the grounds of one of Jamaica's most famous landmarks.
This bodes well for the development of classical and instrumental music in Jamaica.
