Waterlow Gala Concerts
The Waterlow Festival got underway with two spectacular gala concerts this week, as over 300 pupils performed in the stunning new Waterlow Hall.
Following the ‘royal’ grand opening of the hall by the award-winning actors, Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham Carter, special guests were invited to experience the first of many wonderful musical experiences in the stunning new performance space. Former Headmistresses (Mrs Averil Burgess, Miss Helen Pike, Ms Jean Scott and Mrs Jenny Stephens) joined alumnae, donors, sponsors and governors past and present – alongside numerous other campaign supporters – to enjoy two celebratory evenings of music.
The guests viewed an exhibition mapping the history and timeline of Waterlow Hall in the atrium, before seeing the names of the hundreds of donors and supporters emblazoned on the map of stars and musical frieze in the entrance foyer.
Our illustrious Director of Music, Dr Collisson, conducted the choirs and Chamber Orchestra to deliver an emotional and harmonious rendition of Handel’s Coronation Anthem, Zadok the Priest, followed by stunning performances from our drummers, Symphonic Wind Band and Big Bands.
As Mrs Bingham outlined in her speech: “Finally, we have a hall to match the ambitions and talents of our girls. We hope you agree it’s a wonderful hall. But buildings, however beautiful, are just buildings – it is what happens in them and what they inspire that is important.”
“We are excited by the possibilities of the new Waterlow Hall and inspired by the impetus this will give to our bursary programme as we look towards our 150th anniversary in 2026. Our ambition is that all girls can learn without limits – and that includes the limitations of finance. The school has committed to ensuring that future revenues from this hall will go straight to those girls who could not otherwise afford an education at South Hampstead.”
The evening ended with a mesmerising Elgar concerto by cellist and alumna Gemma Rosefield, accompanied by the South Hampstead Symphony Orchestra. Gemma was one of three sisters to have attended South Hampstead, where she began to learn the cello and sing in the choir in the Junior School.
The Waterlow Hall Festival continues throughout the term, with a busy calendar of events including the inaugural Speaker Series in the new hall; the ground-breaking feminist play, Emilia; an evening of poetry and prose; a Junior School play; a new TED-style event, VoiceBox; and more spectacular music concerts. Download the full programme here.