Showcase 2011

On May 6h. the RUTPAF held its annual Showcase, in the presence of the Mayor and Mayoress of Richmond upon Thames, Cllr. and Mrs. David Marlow,  in a new venue, the 450 Hall, at Hampton School.   This ‘Hall’ is in fact a purpose built theatre for the performing arts with tiered seating and a large stage, which provided an exciting performance area for  the varied acts which comprised the showcase. 

All the performers had been chosen for the excellence and also entertainment value of their work during the 2011 Festival.   The  first half of the programme was devoted to the music sections, piano, vocal  and instrumental. The full programme is attached below. 

There was much outstanding work on show and many audience members commented on the talent  and commitment of the young performers.  Highlights included:  From the vocal section, Young Singer of the Year, Olivia Doutney, who  thrilled with her lovely contralto voice, and  Ines Anderson surprised with the wit, maturity and poise which she used to such good effect in  By the Sea, a difficult Sondheim song:  violinists Mio Takahashi (9) and Laure Chan (16) (with an immaculate performance of the 3^rd movement of the Bruch violin Concerto) were outstanding  and Molly Berghout, with something very different on the piano, Gershwin’s Love Walked In : Special mention must also be made of Stephanie Lai, a pupil at Woldingham School in Surrey,  who amazed with her versatility on the saxophone 

After a lively opening by the Colourstrings Orchestra, the second half of the programme was devoted to dance and drama.  Budding actors, Maria Waring, Sahana Gnanasampanthan and Fraser Henderson and Henry Abbott amused and entertained us, interspersed with dances by award-winning students from the Maria Anderson School, Graham School, Julie Sianne Theatre Arts and the Susan Robinson School of Ballet.   All showed remarkable technique and professionalism , as did every performer in this super concert! 

                                  The Showcase Part I

Announcer: Jenny Thornton
Vocal Accompanist: Christina Ward
1.  Unicorn School Choir   Can you hear me? by Bob Chilcott

        2-3-8     Stand By Me— arr. Shaw
                         Directed by Rebecca Gresson

            Olivia Doutney  (Young Singer of the Year)
               Erbarme dich — Bach

5      Charlotte Barbour Condini (Piano)
         Rondo from Sonata in C minor, op 13—Beethoven

6      Tara Chapman    Die Nacht — Richard Strauss

7.  Vanessa Cheung  (Joint winner Young Pianist of the Year)
         Un sospiro—Liszt

8.  Stephanie Lai (Runner up Young Instrumentalist of the Year )  Brasiliera—Milhaud

9.  Molly Berghout    Love Walked in  - Gershwin

10   Laure Chan  (Young Instrumentalist of the Year)
   3rd Movt.—Violin Concerto—Bruch

             Accompanied by Susumu Sasaki

The Showcase - Part II

11.   Colourstrings Orchestra

         Selection from Album for the Young—Tchaikovsky
          Symphony in D (arr.)  - Mozart

12   Jenna Sweeney & Sophie Louise Nash  Nowadays from Chicago

13   From the Speech & Drama Section:

         Fraser Henderson &  Henry Abbott—Mr & Mrs. Silly Cucko   by David Wood

        Sahana  Gnanasampanthan (Runner—up Young Performer of the  Year)  My Rival    — Rudyard Kipling

14     From the Stage Dance Section:

           Maria Gregory & Isabelle Smart—Modern Dance Duet

           Charlotte Perry—Desire (Contemporary Modern Dance)

           Fleur Wade Considine – Song & Dance

15    Maria Waring (Young Performer of the Year) - Miranda from The Tempest   

16    Sophie Morgan  - Ballet Dance  from Sylvia by Delibes          

17.    Katie Rogers, Lara Lucano & Georgina Woodward  —  Spanish  Trio

Festival Showcase 2012

Saturday, May 19th at 7 pm

450 Hall, Hampton School
Hanworth Road, Hampton, TW12