Talbot's House

House Singing 2013

Well... What to report on house singing?

The fundamental thing about the competition is that it is the one event in the year where the whole house comes together and strives for the same goal. We have achieved this most impressively this term. On the night there was no new and old or junior/senior we were one solid unit. Did we give it our all in the build up and on the night? yes we did. Were we rewarded for it? It depends on your version of rewarded!

The boys certainly gave it their all but due to the pressure didn't quite perform with the control we had in the practices. However, it was a decent performance as all who were present would agree. When the judge read out that we had finished in sixth place there was stunned silence throughout the auditorium. I, as housemaster, was gutted for our lads. Its true that someone always has to come last but this felt unjust. However, it is a subjective competition and it is a lesson for us all moving forward in executing on the night and that quantitative results don't necessarily reflect the intangible achievements we have made in the process of preparing for the event. Particular credit must go to Mr Rooke as our resident music teacher, James Mactavish for his accompaniment and Karan Gupta for his excellent conducting of practices prior to and on the night.

Perhaps a greater shock was the part song not winning. They were outstandingly controlled and tight and the full range of vocal talent in the group as used excellently. However, the judge awarded the prize to Paulo citing balance in the arrangement as the reason. This felt more unjust in some ways given the way they performed on the night.

There will have been no consolation taken by the fact that both the unison and part were far superior to Messrs Rooke and Gracie's efforts for the staff man band either!

It was Paulo's night as they won all 3 trophies, something which no one could begrudge them after their performances on the night.

The good thing about our lads is they embody the maxim 'you can't keep a good man down'. The disappointment was quickly put to one side as we returned to the house to an excellent sound setup for another one of our epic karaoke parties. It was important to recognize at this point in the term how far everyone has come and the boys should rightly feel proud of their achievements in the singing, even if their efforts weren't reflected on the night.