A packed Chapel was privileged to enjoy a fabulous evening concert on Thursday 22 September given by two musical stars of the West End stage. Old Oakhamian Katie Hall, who has starred in West End and touring productions of The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables, was delighted to return to her old school in the company of her friend and fellow West End actor/singer, Earl Carpenter, with whom she has regularly appeared on stage.

They offered a delighted audience a whistle-stop tour of both songs and stories covering their “life in musicals”, blending amusing anecdotes of stage mishaps and audition calamities with first-class performances of famous songs from a wide range of shows, accompanied on the piano by Oakham’s Director of Music, Peter Davis.

Katie was particularly keen to collaborate in this concert with the current generation of Oakhamian singers as she has very fond memories of her schooldays singing in Oakham’s choirs. The present day Chamber Choir was excited to join forces with our distinguished visitors, accompanying them in a wonderful Disney Medley (arranged by Jamey Ray of Voctave fame) and finishing the concert with a moving performance of “You will be found” from Dear Evan Hansen.

The whole performance was a vocal tour de force that both amazed and entertained, and we are so grateful that Katie and Earl could visit us in Oakham so early in the new academic year.

Written by Peter Davis, Director of Music