More than 200 musicians gave a magical celebration of live music in Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools’ Choral and Orchestral Concert at Wyastone.

Eleven-year-old Monty Clarke was among the soloists as the schools returned to the music outstanding venue for the first time since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Under the baton of Mr David Lawson, Berntein’s colourful Chichester Psalms, sung by a joint choir of 170 voices, including all Year 7 pupils at Monmouth School for Boys and Monmouth School for Girls, almost raised the roof.

Monty Clarke, Tabitha Prosser-Wrench, Eleanor Moore, Sam Britner and Christopher Tang delivered enchanting solos in the Bernstein.

A special mention must also go to Haydn Marks, Huw Taylor and Daniel Wardle who, along with Monty, together sung a solo passage.

Senior Strings, under the baton of Mrs Ruth Friend, opened with Reger’s Liebestraum.

Under the direction of Miss Sarah Fowler, Symphonic Winds performed well-known selections from Chess and Hairspray.

The 70-piece Joint Symphony Orchestra, HMSSO, under the baton of Mr Derek Harris, presented an ambitious programme that included Mission: Impossible and Márquez’s Conga del Fuego Nuevo.

The final item of the evening, Chichester Psalms, was a fitting finale to a stunning celebration of music-making from Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools.

“For many years, it has been a feature of our Year 7 curriculum to spend part of their lesson time learning to sing choral work,” said Mr Lawson.

“The large and appreciative audience gave rapturous applause and definitely enjoyed their evening of live music.”