Crosby college stages music and fireworks extravaganza for over 1,500 people

St Mary’s College staged its Proms in the Park music and fireworks extravaganza at the school’s Blundell Park playing field, where an audience of more than 1,500 people were entertained by the musical skills of around 250 students from the college and its preparatory school.

The musical ensembles performing during the evening included the college symphony orchestra, the college symphonic wind band, the college stage band, the college junior choir, the college chamber choir and the preparatory school’s show choir and concert choir.

After a four-year Covid-enforced break, the musical spectacular had actually resumed last year, but had to be abandoned at the interval due to heavy rain, thunder and lightning.

There were no such problems with the weather this time round as audience members enjoyed a wide-ranging programme conducted by St Mary’s director of music, Andrew Byers, and featuring a special guest appearance by acclaimed soprano and former pupil Rachael Russell.

First-half highlights included New York New York, the themes from movie classics ET and The Magnificent Seven and proms’ favourite, Jerusalem, led by Rachael with audience members joining in.

The musical spectacular continued after the interval with 633 Squadron, a Beatles medley. ELO’s Mr Blue Sky, Dancing In The Street and the haunting I Dreamed A Dream from hit musical Les Miserables.

As darkness fell over Blundell Park, and pyrotechnics lit up the sky, the concert built up to a climax with Land of Hope and Glory, the crowd-pleasing Can Can, Fantasia on British Sea Songs written by proms’ founder, Henry Wood, and finally Mussorgsky’s epic Great Gates of Kiev from Pictures at an Exhibition.

All this was enjoyed by the appreciative audience, many of whom had enjoyed an open-air picnic earlier in the evening before settling down to the musical entertainment.

St Mary’s principal, Mike Kennedy, commented: “As usual, Proms in the Park was a wonderful showcase for the wealth of musical talent to be found at the school, and the standard of performances at the concert was incredibly high throughout.

“I would like to pay tribute to all those who took part, the staff who nurtured their skills and the audience members who came along in such numbers to support the event.

Mr Kennedy added: “As always, it was a magnificent spectacle and an evening to remember.”