The Music Department hit the ground running back in September, immediately beginning rehearsals with all of our orchestras, choirs and ensembles, in preparation for a breathtaking array of concerts and performances forthcoming during this academic year.
Concerts during the first half-term have focussed on solo performances, with students from Years 10-13 performing in our first lunchtime concert at the end of September, featuring music such as Poulenc Oboe Sonata and Bach Chaconne. In the same week we enjoyed our first departmental trip to the Royal Festival Hall to hear the London Philharmonic Orchestra present music by Mendelssohn, Sibelius and Brahms, conducted by Edward Gardner.
In October, we continued our wonderful collaboration with the Modern Languages Department, as some of our top soloists presented music with a Spanish theme during the Hispanic Theatre Festival. Then on a sunny Sunday afternoon, all of our singing students came together for a recital performing music across the classical, musical theatre and pop genres.
We ended this half-term with three contrasting events: the first of our Scholars’ Recitals featuring music by Schumann, Kreisler and Chopin performed by our senior scholars; then a lunchtime rock concert performed by our Year 9 band; and finally our intrepid Music Society leaders, Year 13 students Avie, Isabella and Jasmin put together a fabulous lunchtime concert as part of Senior Societies, featuring performances by staff and students.
Scott McCall, Director of Music
