BEAUTIFUL music filled St David’s Hall in Cardiff on Mothering Sunday as more than 400 pupils performed a stirring concert to mark a Wye Valley school’s 125th anniversary.

Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls pupils were joined on stage by old girls, staff and professional musicians as they played to an audience of more than 800.

The concert was a collaborative event, as pupils and staff from The Grange, Inglefield House, Monmouth School, HMSG and the Monmouth Male Voice Choir sang, strummed and plucked their hearts out.

Challenging music by Khachaturian, Stravinsky and Bernstein was played by the Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools Symphony Orchestra, directed by David Lawson of Monmouth School.

And the Senior Strings gave an outstanding performance of Dag Wirén’s Serenade for Strings, conducted by HMSG’s Ruth Friend.

In a glorious finale, everyone on stage gave a stirring rendition of In These Stones Horizons Sing by Karl Jenkins, directed by HMSG’s Mario Conway.

The beloved teacher, who is retiring this summer after 35 years of loyal service to the school, was given a standing ovation at the end of the show.

Former HMSG pupil and world renowned Mozart conductor Professor Jane Glover CBE, whose father Robert was headmaster of Monmouth boys’ school in the 1960s and 70s, also gave an address from the stage having agreed to be a patron for the school’s new appeal for a performing arts centre.

Dr Caroline Pascoe, HMSG headmistress, said: “I’m so very proud of all the hard work by our pupils and staff. It was a fabulous way to celebrate the school’s milestone anniversary.

“It was particularly wonderful to welcome old girl, Professor Jane Glover CBE, to the stage. The world-renowned Mozart conductor shows our current musicians just what is possible with hard work and passion for music.”

The year-long 125th anniversary celebrations include an old girls’ commemorative service at St Lawrence Jewry in London, on Thursday, May 18, close to Haberdashers’ Hall; an old girls’ reunion on Saturday, June 10; a commemorative alumni summer ball on Saturday, July 8; an alumni sports day and lunch on Sunday, September 10; and an evening with award-winning broadcaster Clare Balding on Friday, October 6.

Founded in 1892, famous former pupils who attended the independent girls’ school include former MP Jackie Ballard, musician Marina Diamandis, JoJo Maman Bebe founder Laura Tenison, TV presenters Frances Donovan, Lisa Rogers and Alex Lodge and professional golfer Becky Morgan.

For more information, see www.hmsg.co.uk