The Junior Recital this week was a celebration of how big a part music plays in the daily life of children at Farleigh, and how much they enjoy it was evident on the face of every one of the performers. 

Eight junior ensembles featuring 84 children in Years 3 to 6 took to the stage to dazzle us with their varied instrumental performances; and Junior Choir, comprising 107 children in Years 3 and 4 rounded the concert off with a heart warming performance of Be our Guest, which brought a smile to all our faces.

The largest school ensemble, 28-strong String Sensation, opened the evening with a superbly polished performance of their signature tune, the familiar Pachelbel's Canon, followed by the woodwind groups who presented a great selection of movie favourites. We were transported to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory during the Oompa Loompa song by the Flute Ensemble, to the wild plains of Africa in Hakuna Matata from The Lion King by the Sax Pack, and to the Arabian desert in A Whole New World from Aladdin by the Junior Clarinets. 

Brass Band performed the James Bond theme with great confidence, and the evening would not have been complete without some jazz from Green Shoots who kept toes tapping to the C-Jam Jump. The five members of Recorder Group made a great sound playing Spanish Dance and the aptly named Freeze as the snow swirled around outside the Music School. 

We were treated to an original performance of Cab Calloway's Minnie the Moocher by Pick Perfect, the youngest guitarists, accompanied by Chuff Byrne on vocals. Junior Rock Academy were the perfect finale to the instrumental groups, performing two original songs written by their band members, Sprite by Wilf McKinley, and The River Flows by Myles Anniss - this band is one to watch. Super cool!

Thank you to all the amazing music staff who teach the children, rehearse the ensembles tirelessly, and to Mr Reeves for masterminding all the concerts which feature so many of Farleigh's rising musical stars.