350th Anniversary Christmas Concert
On Thursday 10 December, The Usher Hall once again played host to the School's annual Christmas Concert. As Headmaster, Mr Hector writes:
"Three years on from the last Heriot’s Usher Hall Concert, if any of us had by some remote chance forgotten what makes it such a special event, what a glorious reminder we had on the evening of Thursday 10 December, when over 600 pupils from P4 to S6 and a sell-out audience packed the Usher Hall to capacity for a hugely enjoyable and impressive concert. Not only was there the excitement of returning to the Usher Hall after its closure for refurbishment, but the celebration of the 350th Anniversary of the opening of Heriot’s added an extra dimension, and the School’s musicians scaled new heights of ambition and excellence in honour of that historic milestone. Who will forget the combined Senior School Choirs’ performance of excerpts from Carmina Burana, and the moment of magic when the Grand Finale of the choral version of Highland Cathedral, performed by the First Orchestra, all the choirs, Pipe Band and guest artists Caledon, met with a standing ovation and a reprise of the entire piece for an encore. But throughout, in a programme blending moments of lyrical beauty with soul-stirring grandeur, this was a concert worthy of the special anniversary which it marked. A full review will appear in “The Herioter”, but for now congratulations to the Music Department, to all the other staff who had a hand in organising the concert in any way, and most of all to the pupils, on an outstanding achievement."
In the spirit of Heriot’s motto “I Distribute Chearfullie” there was a retiring collection in aid of two charities, Drake Music Scotland, which works to provide opportunities for people with a wide range of disabilities to play, learn and compose music independently, and Sentebale, the Princes Fund for Lesotho, whose mission is to transform the lives of orphans and vulnerable children in the kingdom of Lesotho in Southern Africa. This raised the magnificent sum of £4,051, and our thanks go to our audience for their generous donations.
