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Looking back on 2024-25

While the musicians of SBMS are enjoying a well-earned rest for the summer, we take a look back at our 2024-25 season.

The season had been quite eventful for SBMS. We bid a fond farewell to Jonathan Abbott at the start of the season when he left his post as Musical Director. Bethany Reynolds (at just 9 years old!) wowed everyone with her beautiful performance on the piano at our Family Concert.

After Christmas, we welcomed our new MD, David Rowland, who debuted as our new conductor at the Mostly Classical concert in February. At the same concert, we also performed Nigel Hildreth’s St Botolph’s Suite (composed especially for SBMS) in its entirety for the very first time.

The Symphony: An Exploration saw us trial something new. A talk about Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 and the elements that makes this symphony particularly remarkable. It was, of course, followed by a full performance. We had lovely feedback from this, and hope to repeat the format again some day.

Finally, we closed the season with Classical Music on Film, featuring all the favourites that have been used on screen. Thérèse Miller’s performance of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2 was outstanding, and we were all treated to a wonderful encore.

Stay tuned for news coming soon on our 2025-26 season!

Sarah’s musical journey began at the age of 4, when she picked up her first recorder - an Early Learning Centre green recorder! She took up the violin at 7, followed by the clarinet at 10, partly inspired by her late grandfather, who also played the clarinet. She studied clarinet initially with Susan Boddy before moving to Sue Barber, and later returning to Susan Boddy. From 1991 to 2000, she attended the Saturday morning music school run by Essex Music Service, helping to develop her love of music from an early age.

Sarah first tried out for St Botolph’s Music Society around 2000-02. Although circumstances meant she was only able to attend one rehearsal at the time, she eventually found her way back to the Society, joining the second violin section in September 2016. She became section leader in 2023.

Alongside her musical activities, Sarah studied with the Open University, graduating in 2012 with a BA (hons) in Humanities with German and Music. She now plays an active role both on and off the concert platform as Secretary of the SBMS committee. She also looks after the Society’s website and ticketing, and leads its marketing and communications.

With both a love of performing and a passion for helping the Society thrive, Sarah enjoys being part of the team both on and off the concert platform.

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