“IF music be the food of love play on....”

These famous words were brought to life when Alton Convent celebrated the Bard’s 400th anniversary with an evening of music, dance and drama entitled ‘A roundel and a faerie song’.

The event was in aid of former pupil Laura Sylvester, who had been diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome. Ehlers Danlos causes the connective tissue throughout Laura’s body to be extremely stretchy and easily breakable and there is no cure for it.

Laura, who lives with her parents in Tilford, needed to raise £190,00 for two life-saving operations.

Repertoire by composers from Shakespeare’s time, such as Caccini’s famous Ave Maria sung by the chamber choir, as well as more modern settings of Shakespeare texts by composers such as Quilter and Finzi, were heard. The senior orchestra and string ensemble opened the programme with extracts from Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances and Two Renaissance Dances. Special guests, the period ensemble Pastime with Goode Companie, brought an authentic Elizabethan flavour to the evening with several items on viols and recorders.

Macbeth featured prominently in the first half with contributions from Chanteurs , Stars Hide Your Fires, the Junior Chamber Choir – John Williams’ Double Trouble, and an entertaining drama ‘Macbeth in Five Minutes’ devised by Alton Convent head of English Mr Hoyes, who was also seen skilfully managing the props!

In contrast, the second half was dominated by A Midsummer Night’s Dream-related items – a setting of Over Hill, Over Dale, Mendelssohn’s well-known trio Ye Spotted Snakes with Double Tongue, and two items from Purcell’s Faerie Queen, viz the virtuoso aria Hark the Ech’ing Air and a stunningly executed dance to Hush, No More by Grace Jenner, who also choreographed this item.

The lighter tone continued with a captivating rendition of Finzi’s It Was a Lover and His Lass sung by Edward Roberts, a professional singer. Soliloquys from Romeo and Juliet and Taming of the Shrew contributed further to the evening, and a delightful and charming setting of Sigh No More Ladies sung by the Chamber Choir brought the evening to a close.

At the end of the evening Mrs Hoyes, Laura’s former English teacher, spoke warmly of Laura’s time with the school and thanked everyone for their support.

Laura, who had been a valuable member of the Chamber Choir in her time, sent a message on hearing how well the concert had been received: “I am so overwhelmed, I can’t believe how much you were able to raise on the night.

“Thank you so much for your support and efforts to put together a concert, please pass on my thanks to Mrs Douglas and the choirs for putting together the music.

“I wish I could have been there in person to say thank you to everyone who attended, participated and donated.”

The concert raised £1,495 which will go toward Laura’s on-going medical costs.

For more details on Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and Laura’s fundraising, visit youcaring.com/laura-sylvester-483048.