Crosby plays host to annual St Mary’s College music and fireworks extravaganza

Crosby played host to the annual St Mary’s College Proms in the Park concert this weekend – one of the most spectacular events staged by any school in the North West.

The recent spell of glorious weather continued long enough to provide balmy conditions for the college’s eighth music-and-fireworks extravaganza at its Blundell Park playing field.

The concert attracted an audience of more than 2,500 family members, friends and local music lovers.

It showcased the musical skills of around 250 students from the college and its preparatory school, and was conducted by director of music, Andrew Byers.

One of the highlights of the evening was a special guest appearance by acclaimed soprano Rachael Russell, a former pupil of the college.

Meanwhile the compere for the concert – which built up to a spectacular 1812 Overture firework finale – was popular BBC Radio Merseyside presenter, Roger Phillips.

He introduced all the old favourites from the famous Last Night of the Proms concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

These included Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No 1 (Land of Hope and Glory), Jerusalem and the Fantasia on British Sea Songs written by Proms founder Henry Wood.

Other highlights of the programme included Poème Symphonique – Les Préludes by Franz Liszt, William Walton’s Crown Imperial and the theme from Superman Returns by John Williams.

In addition, the Prep Show Choir and College Chamber Choir sang a medley of songs from The Greatest Showman, pupils from reception through to the sixth form all making beautiful music together.

Earlier in the evening, audience members had taken advantage of the ideal weather to enjoy an open-air picnic before settling down to the musical entertainment, and some frenetic flag waving to accompany it.

St Mary’s principal, Mike Kennedy, said: “The college places music very high up the educational agenda, and this annual event is a wonderful showcase for the wealth of exceptional talent that exists at the school.

“Once again the standard of music at the concert was incredibly high, and I would like to thank all the performers and audience members for supporting the event and making it a really rousing way to mark the end of the school year, as well as an evening to remember.

“The event will return in 2019, when our aim is to make it even bigger and better to mark what will be St Mary’s centenary year,”