Holy Trinity Church Hall, London NW3

This BBCM workshop started triumphantly with a communal sol-fa version of Purcell's trumpet tune, moving swiftly onto a selection of BBCM favourites 'Swan Song', 'Frere Jacques', Mozart's 'Oragna Figa' and culminating in 'Ode to Joy' with the young ones stoically providing the tune whilst the teenage and adult classes added the harmonies.

The 2nd Year Class entertained us with their 'mini' opera performances of Kodaly songs, 'Teddy and Tailor' and 'Daddy Long Legs', and the Israeli song 'Tombai' with full percussion.

There were some enjoyable instrumental contributions, most notably the Klengel cello quartet and the violin group's English folk songs.

Instrumental pieces also contributed to the afternoon's highlights: the technically challenging Bartok 'Mosquito' Violin Duo and Vivaldi Double Violin Concerto movement played by Alice Butcher and Rebecca Brown and the haunting and sad sound of the tenor violin played by Agnes herself with James Boyd on guitar (Marcello).

We were all moved to hear David Franklyn's Bartok 'Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm' on piano. David is in his thirteenth year with BBCM!

We were also intrigued by the new Sary method of contemporary composition, which Agnes is exploring.

I really enjoyed singing 'Donna, Donna' with the 3rd year class, a Yiddish song I remember singing years ago as a melancholy student!

Individual contributions which we particularly enjoyed included Peanut's (Matthew Gold) Heiden-roslein sung in German (well done!), the Craven family's Beatles song, Sophia Dignam and her mother Kate's violin/piano duo, Alicia and Hester from the teenage class playing Alicia's GCSE composition for cello and piano, and Sam on trumpet accompanied by his teacher, David Franklyn.

My personal favourite was the Lazarus family and friends jazz/vocal group with 'ABC'. BBCM student Ilan is definitely a jazz piano talent to watch.

The afternoon had a warm and friendly atmosphere and as ever the food provided by all looked and tasted fantastic.

Louise Wadsworth, B.Ed (Hons, Cantab)
mother of Joey, 2nd year class