Audience treated to outstanding student concert

September 22nd, 2012
[by David Armstrong]

The breadth of genuine musical talent developing at Motueka High School was showcased last night at a concert at the Chanel Arts Centre which wowed an audience of about 80 people.

Having enjoyed and reviewed a similar youth concert at the venue two years ago, I was impressed to see just how far many of the same performers have progressed, thanks largely to their inspirational musical teachers.

While performers at that earlier concert were content to do an item as best they could, those same youths last night were aiming - and achieving - far higher, pushed to expand their horizons by teacher Hilary Sinclair, who organised and MC'ed the concert. A big thank-you to Hilary for her work in training and inspiring the kids. (See photos below.)

Undoubtedly the star of the night was Louis Lucas-Perry, who is now a pianist ready for the New Zealand-wide stage. Not only were his solo performances breathtaking, but he also happily - and capably - contributed as accompanist for several other players over a range of musical styles.

Two years ago Louis was spectacular and ambitious as he attacked challenging pieces. Now he has an assuredness in technique and timing which is obvious even to an amateur reviewer, and has added an emotional level to his interpretations. And he knows how to bow and respect the applause of the audience, which most of the youngsters are still yet to learn.

As Hilary told the audience at the end, it's a shame that young talents like Louis and other senior students will leave the town after this year to pursue their careers, but "there will be others coming up to fill the gaps and they will see the standards that have already been set".

She also said that Louis has been a big factor in encouraging other students to strive for better performances, as they can see in their midst just how good they could be. She also said the veteran pianist Bill Buck has been very helpful in mentoring some of the students.

Many acts were of exceptional standard. The concert began with an all-comers school choir, singing three numbers with great clarity and smooth harmonies. I was pleased in particular to see four young men confidently and strongly filling their harmony parts and carrying melodies - often a weakness in school choirs which are dominated by females. "Tears in Heaven" was a beautiful and sensitive rendition.

Brad Granger used a pre-recorded rhythm and melody section to play a complex bass guitar part which added jazz-lead elements to bassing the chords. It was unusual to see just a bass player, but it worked well as he added so many varieties to the themes. (Sorry, no photo, as he had the music stand in the line of sight.)

Two female soloists, Emma Bowdler and Victoria Hart, sang modern songs unfamiliar to me, that were demanding on both accuracy of pitch and vocal range. Despite their nerves both gave satisfying performances and will surely get better with more tuition and experience in public performance.

In fact, that is what has happened with Alanah Behringer. Two years ago she was talented but shy and sometimes hesitant in letting emotion come through in her performance. Last night she showed how work done since has lifted her to an impressive musician. Her "In the Arms of an Angel" (Sarah McLachlan) was stunning with unobtrusive but supportive guitar work, strength and accuracy across the vocal range, and superb emotional delivery.

Two international exchange students, Anna and Julius, gave beautiful performances on flute and piano respectively. What a pity that they are not staying here after their exchange periods are up! They would certainly give locals someone else to look up to and learn from.

An unusual item was the jazz saxophone quintet, who played two numbers including "Chatanooga Choo Choo". They certainly didn't play safe, instead belting out stanzas of complex rhythms and adventurous discords which helped make it great entertainment even without any backing drums or rhythm section.

The following five-piece jazz combo, a subsection of the school's jazz band, confidently handled lively jazz numbers. Each of the five (including Louis on piano) did what all good jazz bands do - did their own solo riffs for one verse each before recombining, showing that they were all talented on their own instruments.

The jazz band's trumpeter, Sebastian Wilson, then nearly stole the whole show (for me) with an arrangement of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" on ukulele. I've played the ukulele, but never like this. His finger-picking skill were exquisite, particularly on the higher notes when ukuleles sound plunky and plastic. Simply put, probably the best ukulele solo I've ever heard.

Anna Goodall, accompanied by Bill Buck, thrilled the audience with three classical items on flute, all difficult pieces and handled with admirable confidence.

Izaak Behringer is another student who just gets better and better through his intensive musical studies. Having shown sweet lead guitar work in the jazz combo, he played a piece from his Level 2 classical guitar studies which shows he is becoming a talented player with plenty of possibilities ahead of him.

The evening was brought to an end appropriately by a superb performance by the award-winning official school choir Suono Bellissimo, under Hilary's direction. Again, Hilary isn't content to get a solid performance of standard songs out of them - she challenges them to achieve precise, perfectly melded harmonies around fluid jazz chords, and they did it at a level which could not be faulted.

Hilary Sinclair (left) conducts the all-comers choir

Emma Bowdler	Exchange student Anna
Alanah Behringer	Sebastian Wilson

The jazz sax quintet

The jazz combo (with Louis Lucas-Perry on piano, obscured)

Victoria Hart	Exchange student Julius improvises on piano
Flautist Anna Goodall with Bill Buck on piano	Izaak Behringer on classical guitar

Louis Lucas-Perry with page-turner Bill Buck

Suono Bellissimo

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