Rotary Club of Midhurst & Petworth

Rotary Club of Midhurst & Petworth Schools’ Music Evening

Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends were rightfully proud of performances in The Herbert Shiner Hall at this year’s Rotary Youth Music Festival. This festival brings together children from first year primary pupils to sixth formers in an evening of fun.

 Children from six schools showed us how to enjoy music whether it is made by more experienced older children or little ones using tin cans!

 Midhurst Rother College Band opened the evening with an Opera Medley from Phantom by Andrew Lloyd Webber showing the younger pupils what they can aspire to.

 Petworth Primary, using items such as footballs, sticks and buckets created the rhythmic Junk Percussion Piece arranged by Juliet Robinson followed by Litter Song (Anon). Hip, Hop, Stop The Drop by Phil Needham was great fun and sent a good message to us all about litter. Thinking of the wider world they performed a traditional Ghanaian piece - Ayelevi followed by Sporting World by Alison Carver.

  Stedham Primary sang A Light Has Come and Peace Child by Mark & Helen Johnson and their percussion group gave a Samba demonstration.

 Midhurst Primary band played Zanadu by Dave, Dozy, Mick & Titch. The choir sang You’ll Never Walk Alone from Rogers & Hammerstein’s Carousel and Come to the Fair by Sue Stevens.

 Rogate Primary, as a new entrant to this festival, was particularly welcomed as were the six pupils who performed their own arrangement of Mamma Mia bv Benny Anderson & Bjorn Ulvaeus without any teacher support .

 Easebourne Primary sang Side by Side by Harry Woods and had the audience foot tapping to their singing and enthusiastic performance of Build It High by Suzy Davies.

 During the programme Midhurst Rother College Band played Mambo No.5 by Lou Bega arranged by John Blanken and Pink Panther by Henry Mancini. Their performance had the younger children swaying to and fro in rhythm to the band. An accomplished flute ensemble played Somewhere Out There by James Horner, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil.

 Finally all the schools came together to perform Stand By Me by Ben E.King, Jerry Lieber & Mike Stoller – a rousing finale showing us the breadth of talent in our very own local schools.

 Rotary President Paul Ryan thanked all those who had worked so hard to make this evening of non-competitive music a success with a special mention of music teacher Juliet Robinson who once again co-ordinated the evening.  

For use of the hall thanks go to The Petworth & District Community Association. In these challenging economic times it is pleasing to see local businesses prepared to sponsor our children – thanks go to Seven Fish, Frasers, Essentials, Black Sheep, Roger Poat & Partners, Costa, Stockley Trading, L F Lintott & Son, Cowdray Estate and Michael Courtney for their contributions.

 The Rotary Club of Midhurst & Petworth will distribute any profits from the evening to participating schools as a contribution towards their music departments.

 President Paul closed the evening by thanking the participants for providing an evening of fun and happiness.