Lily’s graduation recital

My niece and goddaughter is about to graduate from the Royal College of Music and part of her examination process is a recital in front of the examiners.   She’s allowed a few friends and relations to sit in and I was lucky enough to be there.   There were only six of us plus the judges.  It was completely nerve wracking!  She played incredibly complicated pieces by Lutoslawski, Britten and Stravinsky and of course didn’t put a foot wrong despite doing the first from memory (‘I was a semi-tone out once’ she mused afterwards) I didn’t dare fidget or move or breathe too deeply but she sailed through like a swan.  

Afterwards we took photos in and outside and then repaired to a pretty little pub called The Queen’s Arms where she ravenously devoured a vegan burger and we drank bubbles and toasted her.   She had to go and get her ‘feedback’ an hour later (‘a virtuoso performance!’) and I went home.  The recital was at 4.20 in the Royal College itself and the area around was briefly bathed in sunshine and looked suitable monumental.  

The morning was chilly and breezy and I wore a cream woolen jacket from Me&Em and a sleeveless jumper over a silk shirt.  Not what one hopes for in June.