Spring harmony at St Mary's church in Addington

BELLA BARTOCK discovers some exciting young musical talent playing at St Mary’s Addington’s spring concert

For this concert, what a contrast there was in ages between the young talent on show and the showcase itself, the oldest public building in daily use in Croydon, St Mary’s church in Addington Village.

The church dates back to 1080, much embellished with golden frescoes when Addington Palace was the summer home for Archbishops of Canterbury.

The annual spring concert was this year dedicated to raising funds to deal with the modern intrusion of metal theft that left water pouring into the Norman church.

The concert’s theme was harmony and there was harmony both in the Vivaldi L’estro Armonico (Harmonic Inspiration) concerto piece, performed by 10 young people aged seven to 14, and in the inspiration that the historical setting gave to the young performers. They coped well with the imposing auditorium and large audience.

At the end of the concert the whole ensemble performed Handel’s Bourrée together and the church was ringing, full of harmony.

Japanese violinist, Miho Hakamata, who learnt the violin from the age of three under the tutelage of Dr Suzuki, had been invited back with her talented students after giving a post tsunami concert at St Mary’s last year.

Her own performance from Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor was most inspiring, and Alan Brown’s accompaniment just stunning.