This year’s Community Concert, held on the evening of November 7, opened with a thoughtful introduction to the young musicians of CDNIS. This featured the LS Choir and their performance of “I Wish for Peace”, as well as the LS Strings and their take on the traditional sea shanty “The Drunken Sailor”.
The night continued with seven classical performances, roughly bisected by Elise D’s original “Things Will Come Around”, wherein discerning harmonies and intimate lyrics exemplified a profound and exciting aptitude for songwriting. The classical performances included, but were not limited to, Jonathan L’s rendition of Edvard Grieg’s “Violin Sonata No. 2 in G Major” and harpist Natalie C’s virtuosic recital of Manuel de Falla’s “Spanish Dance No. 1”. All the classical performances exhibited each musicians’ capabilities on their respective instruments, as well as what can only be deduced as innumerable hours of commitment and practice.
A shift towards relatively more contemporary music followed. This saw Kali A, Cherry T, and Elim Y deliver a moving performance of Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire”. “It was good to see my DP class students show a different side of their skill set beyond the classroom,” said Mr. O’Toole, Head of Music. This was followed by four more contemporary performances, all of which continued to illustrate the musical talent at CDNIS, as well as a jazz quintet’s interpretation of the standard “There Will Never Be Another You”. Led by bassist Monty L, improvised solos from all five band members demonstrated a proficiency in and a shared love for the genre.
The night culminated in the Community Choir’s renditions of Coldplay’s “Human Heart” and the Steve Miller Band’s “Fly Like an Eagle”. Comprised of administrators, teachers, parents, and students, the Community Choir once again reminded the audience of the power of music in bringing people together.
With seventeen performances across five genres, involving students ranging from grades 1 to 11 and members of the wider CDNIS community, the 2025 Community Concert was filled with exceptional music, a strong sense of togetherness, and was undoubtedly a night to remember.
