Barry Comprehensive School

Joanne Thomas, Rob Bourton and Chris Bourton

On Wednesday 5th March, a very special evening took place at Barry Comprehensive School. A unique musical event, to raise funds for the charity “Lost Chord”, unfolded and delighted the audience with music from Bizet to Bernstein.

Apart from one Year 10 student, Tom Kinch, every other item in the musical programme was performed by adults. Mr. Rob Bourton, a music teacher and Head of Sixth Form at Barry Comprehensive; his wife, Joanne Thomas, a professional opera singer with the Welsh National Opera and two of Mr. Bourton’s brothers, Christopher and Richard sang and played throughout the evening to a very appreciative audience. It was evident, right from the start, that this was going to be a very enjoyable musical concert. The first half of the programme concentrated on arias and duets from well known operas such as Don Giovanni and Carmen. The ever popular “Nessun Dorma” from Puccini’s “Turrandot”, was sung by Rob Bourton. He sang the same song at “Teachers X Factor” last November and it won him the final! Another favourite was “Habanera” from Carmen, sung by Mezzo Soprano Joanne Thomas. Every man sizzled by the time she had finished singing, as this is the song where Carmen flirts with the soldiers, singing that love is a rebellious bird that can never be tamed.

Presenting the evening, with her usual mix of fun and humour, Miss Karen Walters, Head of Creative Arts, explained the lyrics of each song, as they were performed in French, Italian and German. She introduced the second half as “songs from famous West End musicals”, which included My Fair Lady, Les Miserables and West Side Story.

Tom Kinch deserved his place with all these professionals and sang his heart out. He sang “Caro mio ben” like he had been singing forever. Certainly a star for the future and he is only fifteen years old.

Many thanks and congratulations to all the performers on this evening, for entertaining the audience from beginning to end. We certainly hope this will become an annual event in the school calendar.

And finally, the proceeds, donated to the charity “Lost Chord”, amounted to over a thousand pounds. Lost Chord produces more than 850 interactive musical sessions a year, designed to stimulate responses from dementia sufferers through the media of music, song and dance. So, all in all, a very worthwhile evening, where music was certainly the food of love, that the audience encouraged to play on!

Photos

1. Joanne Thomas, Rob Bourton and Chris Bourton
2. Year 10 student Tom Kinch