Congratulations to all the boys who performed in the Junior Strings Festival on
Monday 11 June. This was our second ever Junior Strings Festival and 32 boys took part, playing
violin, viola, cello, double bass and guitar. There were six classes in all, ranging in ability from
beginners to grade 7, and the Festival ran from 11.10am until 3.20pm. The quality of playing was
extremely high, and the adjudicator, the Deputy Director of Music at Dulwich College, Dr John
Carnelley, said that he was very impressed by the way in which all the boys performed.
The Festival concluded with a Winners’ Concert at 4.15pm which featured all those boys who had
come either First or Second in their Class. We were also treated to two very lovely performances
from the Junior String Quartet (Luca Franchi, James Laurie, Archie Smith and Lolly Whitney‐Low)
and the Junior Guitar Duo (Henry Wallder and James Barnett).
The standard and range of playing throughout the Festival was a testament both to the wonderful
and dedicated teaching from our visiting music teachers, who I would like to thank for all their
work with the boys, and to the commitment and talent we have amongst the boys here at Dulwich
College.
I would particularly like to thank my colleagues, Mr Rod Faulkner and Mrs Janice Gillard, for their
unstinting work in helping me to organise and run this event. I would like to thank Dr Andrew
Storey for his excellent accompanying of the boys throughout the day. I would also like to thank Dr
John Carnelley for his expert adjudication. His comments were both helpful and encouraging of
every boy who performed.
Certainly the whole Festival was a very successful and enjoyable event.
Lesley Larkum
Head of Strings