The East London School of Music (ELSOM) held its classical music fundraising concert on 21 December 2024 at Clapton Community Seventh-day Adventist Church in Hackney. Under Music Director Fiona D. Pacquette, students delivered inspiring performances alongside special guests, including the Windrush Senior Community Choir. Highlights included orchestral hymns, solo pieces, and reflections on resilience, unity, and faith, marking a triumphant end to 2024.
The East London School of Music (ELSOM) students wowed the audience during their end of year classical music fundraising concert held at the Clapton Community SDA Church in Hackney, East London, on the evening of Saturday 21st December 2024. Under the leadership of the school’s Music Director, Fiona D. Pacquette and her assistant tutors, ELSOM students treated the audience to an evening of inspiring classical music performances which also featured a special guest appearance of The Windrush Senior Community Choir under the direction of the highly esteemed classical singer, Chikezie Chike-Michael.
The ELSOM Orchestra’s rendition of Viking (S H Newbold) and God Who Spoke From The Beginning was ably conducted by two young conductors in Kena Roro (Tottenham Lighthouse SDA Church) and Matthew Umole (Clapton Community SDA Church) respectively. The ELSOM Sax Ensemble rendered the hymns – Day By Day and How Great Thou Art while two violinists – Hanna Ghitan (Stanborough Park School) and Gabriella Pedditzi (originally from Stanborough Park SDA Church) shone in their respective solo performances of Be Thou My Vision and The God of Abraham Praise.
There were also a number of solo items played on piano by Emmanuel Asamoah Yeboah and Jakob Rothoff as well as a clarinet solo piece by Jason Alder. The Armstrong brothers – Isaac Camron Armstrong, 17 and Jalon Aaron Armstrong, 15, who, respectively, sat their Grade 8 and Grade 7 Piano performance exams that month performed some of their exam pieces at the concert before coming together alongside Segun Adetunji to perform Gavotte in G minor for 3 Violins (A. Dvorak). Accompanied by their parents, the Armstrong brothers, who travel to London all the way from Carmarthenshire in Wales, are the first among ELSOM’s 145 students to have reached the advanced level, setting the bar for the entire school.
Joseph Lipyeat received great applause for his powerful solo rendition of the hymn – Great Is Thy Faithfulness followed by an equally stunning solo classical rendition of the Christmas Carol, Oh Holy Night by the incomparable, Chikezie Chike-Michael, accompanied by Pianist Abiodun Falode, who joined ELSOM staff in October 2024. But perhaps the most moving and captivating performance of the evening were the renditions by Windrush Senior Community Choir, among them a piece called I Have A Dream, (M. Donnelly) which evoked not only memories of the late African-American Civil Rights Leader and Pastor, Dr. Martin Luther King but also of the resilience of the Windrush pioneers who left the Caribbean to assist in the rebuilding of Britain after World War 2 whilst also living in the hope of building a better life for themselves and their family for generations to come.
Dionne Corrodus-Weekes, Director of Dagenham Eagles who work in partnership with ELSOM, gave special thanks to all ELSOM Tutors, Students and the attending audience before giving praise to God for His leading during 2024.
Darell J. Philip
London Area 6C Communications Coordinator
The East London School of Music is an independent music charity based at Clapton Community Seventh-day Adventist Church, specialising in classical music training, performance and composition for people of all ages and backgrounds.