Bermuda High School Centenary Choral and Orchestral Concert -- Anglican Cathedral, Hamilton -- Wednesday, November 30.

Under the expert direction of Kate Ross, the Bermuda High School Centenary Chorus and Orchestra presented an excellent and varied programme in the Cathedral on Wednesday night.

The programme opened with Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 13 in C major with Mandy Wong, a BHS Grade 12 student, as the soloist.

The orchestra, made up of some of the Island's best players, provided a confident start to this work with some elegant playing from the strings. As the soloist's part began to unfold it became apparent that Miss Wong possessed a technical excellence that was a joy to hear. Mozart abounds with rapid scale passages but the performance here was crystal clear without even a hint of insecurity. This confidence allowed the soloist to concentrate on interpretation, something Miss Wong has learned well from her teachers.

Coupled with her ever intuitive skills, here was a performance of emotional maturity and strength. The natural exuberance of the first movement gave way to an idyllic slow movement with what was a quite limpid utterance from the soloist.

The Finale was a happy marriage between soloist and orchestra, with tempo changes occurring with ease. Again, Miss Wong exploited to the full, the dynamic requirements of the music.

The rapturous applause following this work (with the soloist playing from memory, just as the professionals do) was richly deserved.

An arrangement of Vivaldi's Gloria for ladies' voices completed Wednesday's programme. The opening chorus set the tone for this work which is in some 12 movements.

A pleasing sense of ensemble with good dynamic control was much in evidence, although I felt sometimes that the top soprano line was a little modest in its attack. The restrained legato lines of Et in Terra gave way to a bright account of Laudamus Te. The chorus then tackled the complex Propter Magnum with confidence, the final crescendo being very convincing. Domine Fili was light and rhythmically underpinned with just the right support from the orchestra.

After an absence of some 12 years from the vocal scene, Jean Motyer was the soloist in Ovi Sedes. This was a good account of this movement but it left me wishing that I could hear Mrs. Motyer in her true register. Perhaps next time.

The chorus tackled the final two movements with confidence and skill, and the Cum Sancto Spirito provided a fitting climax to this work.

Bermuda High's Senior School music teacher, Kate Ross (along with the supporting committee) deserves to be congratulated on a fine evening's work and one that very clearly gave a large audience much pleasure.

WILLIAM DUNCAN