12th December 18
The DLD College London Christmas Concert was one of the best I can remember, every one of the acts was polished and the standard across the board was very good. Well done to all those students who took part! The DLD audience is not the easiest to please, and our students have to be very brave to face a sea of faces from the low vantage point of the atrium. Imagine being a Roman slave in the Coliseum: that’s how we feel! The theme was the ‘Road to Wellbeing’ so the songs were chosen to be in harmony with this. Therefore John Denver’s ‘Take Me Home Country Roads’ set the tone perfectly. DLD’s Band CCA get better and better, and the sound they produced was so clean and assured. Dan Lee who runs the Band and teaches guitar has done a fine job. No wonder Virgin Records have just signed up his band! Jewel and Jimin played duets as the crowds assembled, contributing wonderfully well to the ambience. Their solo performances were appreciated as well. Jimin played Chopin’s Polonaise Op.26, a difficult and tricky piece, without any sense of struggle.
The Ukuladies/Chaps also get better each year, particular credit to Diogo and Maria for supplying us with such beautiful harmonies. I decided to pair two brilliant performers together hoping for fireworks and was not disappointed. Myles and Jonathan rendition of ‘O Holy Night’ was spectacular. Jack and Simon’s excellent performance of ‘Going to California’ (Led Zeppelin) was a mellow affair and was a helpful reminder, during these dark winter months, that there is sunshine coming to us soon. The concert ended with the Drama CCA promoting their upcoming production of ‘The Servant of Two Masters’. With the Christmas classic, ‘Let it Snow’ Eduardo reminded us of a young Frank Sinatra, then he led the whole College in singing the two final songs, ‘O Christmas Tree’ and ‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas’. Thanks to Yiannis for the sound production, John and his students for the video work and streaming, and to Ben and Leah for their assistance. Also a big thank to Emily for producing the programmes.
Peter Hopkins
Head of Creative Arts