We were delighted to welcome two of our great musicians back to Tonbridge to perform in the Allan Bunney concert. 

The Recital Room was full of friends, family, former teachers and current pupils and parents, who sought the opportunity to hear Harry and Alex perform together once again, after they left School during 2020, when the Leavers’ Concert was not possible due to COVID restrictions.

“It felt very special to return to Tonbridge and perform in the Recital Room again,” said Harry. “Seeing so many familiar faces in the audience made the afternoon particularly memorable.”

Having studied A Level Music together at Tonbridge, Harry and Alex remain firm friends, connected through their mutual love of music. Harry is a dynamic baritone and conductor based in Manchester and London, with a First-Class Honours degree in Music from the University of Manchester. Alex enjoys a diverse freelance career as an organist, musical director and educator, after gaining an Organ Scholarship to St Johns College, Cambridge.

Reflecting on the partnership, Harry added: “Alex and I have kept in close touch since leaving Tonbridge, and it was a real pleasure to perform together again in a place that played such an important part in our musical journeys.”

Now five years into their careers, involving both international travel and BBC broadcasts, it was wonderful to welcome the OTs back to School. Harry is passionate about inspiring the next generation of musical talent after first discovering his love for singing as a chorister and then Music Scholar. Alex was both an Academic and Music Scholar at School, following his time as a chorister at King’s College, Cambridge. He has since founded St Andrew’s Music School, a charity based in south Cambridge which delivers musical outreach to local schools.

Alex said: “Tonbridge was hugely important in shaping my musical life, so it was a real delight to return and make music here again.”

Their programme for the concert paired Finzi’s Earth and Air and Rain song cycle for baritone and piano, consisting of ten Thomas Hardy poems, with A E Housman’s A Shropshire Lad, set to music by George Butterworth.

Harry, Mark Forkgen, Alex