Friday Headlines
the weekly newsletter from EHS
All-Star Cast Unite for Pam Jelf Performance
15 December 2023
This year’s annual Pam Jelf Memorial Concert took place in the Octagon on Sunday 10 December. The event was attended by more than three hundred guests and featured many former pupils who are now working as professional musicians. All performers volunteered to give up their time free of charge to present this concert in order to raise money for this wonderful cause. EHS Old Girls and a number of male performers from previous school shows came from across the country to take part. Old Girl Suzie Murphy, now based in Vienna, made the trip for both rehearsals and the concert itself.
The all-star cast was supported by pupils form the school who had been specially invited to take part. Each EHS girl invited to perform has made an outstanding commitment to Music this year, so they were selected to take part in this extremely special concert – a great honour for which they did a magnificent job. Ava from the Prep School also joined the cast to perform ‘Castle on a Cloud’. All singers were supported by a wonderful band of instrumentalists made up of staff, volunteers, and colleagues from other schools.
The evening was topped off with the presence of the esteemed Sir David Bintley CBE, one of the world's most respected choreographers. Sir David, who officially opened the newly-built Octagon building in 2003, addressed the audience before the second half commenced. He shared inspiring insights into his journey in the performing arts, emphasising the humble origins from which he developed his passion. Sir David was hugely impressed by the quality and professionalism exhibited by all the performers.
This all-star concert marked the final performance of my tenure as Director of Music at Edgbaston High School. I couldn’t have wished for a more special evening – this concert has been the highlight of my career so far and it was a privilege and an honour to perform one last time on stage with EHS pupils past and present.
I wish EHS every success in the future and I will continue to be the Music Department’s biggest supporter.
Mr Robson, Director of Music
