Grand Reunion Concert - Musicians Play For Josie

On Saturday 3rd July Callington musicians past and present gathered at Callington Community College for a Grand Reunion Concert in aid of the national Brain Tumour Research charity.

The occasion marked the final concert for Director of Music, Mr Peter Stedman, who retires at the end of term, and also saw the students raising money for one of their fellow musicians who was diagnosed with cancer some 6 years ago.  Josie Phillips (nee Alderton) was a keen musician who joined the school in 1994 and who played oboe and viola and also became a member of the Cornwall County Youth Orchestra while in the Sixth Form.  She is currently circumnavigating the British Isles with her husband on their Contessa 32 yacht to raise money for Brain Tumour research and is now off the Western Isles of Scotland.  Josie sent a video clip message, which was played for the audience, on screen, at the concert.  You can read about Josie's campaign on her website.

Musicians gathered from all over the country to join in the String Orchestra, Jazz Band and Concert Wind Band for a great day of music making at the college.  The ex-students and Community College musicians met for rehearsals in the morning and afternoon before retiring to the school playing fields for an al fresco picnic and open mic session at 5pm. The weather proved to be pleasantly warm and almost 100 people including the Vicar of Callington, Mr Peter Sharpe, and Callington Portreeve Mrs Karen Gold, enjoyed free strawberries and cream as well as good company.

The evening concert featured all of the Callington Community College Ensembles and choir and the music was played to a full capacity audience.  The music showed the huge variety of musical styles for which the music department is renowned, including music by Dream Theatre, Mozart and JS Bach with the string orchestra, vocal and instrumental ensembles, and the 50 piece Concert Wind Band playing music by The Eagles and John Tesh, and the band's signature tune Jesus Christ Superstar.  Earlier, the college jazz band was supplemented by 11 past student musicians, for a set which included Hit the Road Jack, Summertime and The Chicken.

At the end of the concert the musicians received a standing ovation from the capacity audience.  The concert was Director of Music, Mr Peter Stedman's last concert at the college having guided the music department for 19 years. During that time the department has grown from small beginnings to become a major force within the school.  The college was designated a Specialist Music College in 2005 and the standard of music making has steadily risen year by year.  The quality and diversity of the music has been recognised both locally and nationally and this www.callingtonmusic.co.uk website is much used by parents, friends and music educators in Britain and beyond.

The concert, and other related events, raised nearly £800 for The Josie Phillips Around Britain with a Brain Tumour Appeal and the musicians left having had a great day and determined to return for the next reunion in 2 or 3 years time.