Review: Evensong

Lyndelle Lawrence
Public relations arts writer
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

A choir from Australia’s oldest independent school performed at Evensong in Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church on August 8, treating the audience to selections of classical music.

Founded in 1831, the King’s School in Parramatta, New South Wales, is home to the King’s School Senior Choir, a vocal ensemble of 92 male singers. The choir, the senior school’s largest ensemble, is open to students between Years 7 and 12.

Conductor Barry Walmsley has enjoyed a multifaceted career in music. Besides being the director of music at King’s, he also heads Trinity College London’s professional development program in Australia and is a former lecturer in music at Avondale College and accompanist for the Avondale Singers.

Although only about 70 of the members of the choir performed at Evensong, the choir did not lose any vocal strength or coherence. However, it seemed the students took time to warm up. The performance of Et in terra pax hominibus from Vivaldi’s Gloria had slight pitch issues, but a reprise at the end of the program improved (and I would have been further impressed had the students shown conviction on their faces).

Two students were featured in solos. Although young, they were clearly capable of delivery, despite moments when technique slipped. Their potential quickly redeemed them. It is exciting to think of how their voices will grow with further instruction.

Kudos to Barry and to Karen Walmsley and to other King’s staff members—the performance was of high quality.