There is much to link singing with Packwood’s Big Tree attributes, and the analogy of those in a choir being like branches – all unique but united in one sound and part of one cohesive group – is particularly apt.
It was lovely to see the whole Prep School, from Forms 3 to 8, coming together for our Sixes Singing Day. Trying a new format, all rehearsals took place within the morning with the pupils and staff of each Six working together to learn the songs, all taken from hits of the 1980s. There was some excellent teamwork amongst older and younger pupils, and some impressive singing, directing and choreographic talent amongst the staff.
The competition itself took place after a Sixes lunch, with Mrs McKenzie, Shrewsbury School Director of Music, adjudicating. Manning Sodens began with a confident and enjoyable performance of ‘The Final Countdown’, followed by Bradshaw Boyces’ impressive rendition of the very wordy ‘I’m Still Standing’. McFerran Wilsons’ ‘Uptown Girl’ was charismatically conducted by our gap student, Mr Jones, and Harcourt Clarkes finished the competition with ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’, sung from memory – a great achievement. All Sixes also performed ‘Walking on Sunshine’; so some appropriate words in several of the songs for the run up to half term.
