A SERIES of online concerts featuring live performances by school students has been launched as a way of cheering up audiences during the global pandemic.
Organised by St Christopher’s School, two have already been broadcast to much acclaim and four more are set to take place featuring the musical prowess of the A’ level pupils.
“We have so much wonderful talent at St Chris and this has been a great opportunity to showcase their musical skills in Bahrain and further afield,” said senior school head of music, Kristina Bourner.
“The concerts feature a variety of musical genres and instruments – two students are performing acoustic sets on the guitar and piano, while others are covering a classical repertoire on the piano, flute and voice.”
Although the school has streamed some of its music events online while they took place in school, this is the first time that the department has organised live performances featuring individual students, she added.
The students featured are 17-year-olds Dana Al Tajer, performing on Sunday, Karma Alami, performing on Thursday, William Shepherd-Smith on June 28, Thomas Milnes on July 1, and 18-year-olds Sheherazade Al Shahry on July 2. Eman Al Haddad starred on June 14 and Layal Abbas performed live yesterday.
Speaking in advance of her performance next week, Karma said that she was ‘beyond excited’ to have an opportunity to do something as ‘close as possible’ to performing on stage in front of an audience, which was something she had “missed so much during this pandemic”.
Dana, who performs live on Sunday, said that she was just glad to have an opportunity to share her music during the current crisis. “This really shows the power of technology, through which music can bring people together, even though we are physically apart,” she said.
Fellow student Thomas added: “With everything that is happening around the globe, it is important to be able to focus on something you feel positive about.
“For me, this is, and has always been, music. The prospect of these live performances makes me very excited.”
William is also very thankful to be able to take part especially as “this will be a great opportunity to perform at a time when events and concerts are unable to take place.”
Each live performance lasts up to 30 minutes.
Ms Bourner said the initiative offered the school and the performers a double bonus. Year 12 students were given a ‘great practice opportunity’ before having to complete their final recitals next year and Year 13 musicians, who will be finishing school in a few weeks’ time, could put on a fitting farewell show.
Ms Bourner said the opening concerts had been ‘very positively received’, were uploaded for future viewing, and the remaining performances could be seen live on YouTube at StChrisBahrain.
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