Music

We welcome both music and non-music students into our busy music enrichment programme, which consists of a range of larger staff-led ensembles and smaller student-led groups.

There are several concerts throughout the year at which students are expected to perform, both in college and externally. In a typical year we put on an Autumn Concert, Christmas Carol Service, Chamber Concert, Band Night and Summer Concert. Large groups
are scheduled in a timetable block, so there is no need to stay behind college (other than for concerts)

LARGE STAFF-LED ENSEMBLES
Our large ensembles are active in the autumn and spring terms and participate in a range of performances up until the beginning of the summer term. Choir and all orchestras are open to all with NO AUDITION.

CHOIR (Wednesday 12.15 pm)
A large group of about 70 students, performs a wide range of music at the college’s major concerts, including the annual Christmas Carol Service. We start the year with some short, easier pieces and work up to a big project for the summer. There are no auditions and no limit on numbers. While we use sheet music, you don’t need to be a fluent reader—just come along and join in!

Please note – a Chamber Choir will be formed by audition later in the autumn term. Chamber Choir members sing in both choirs

WIND BAND (Friday 08.45)
All wind and brass players are welcome to join our large wind band. No auditions are needed, and there’s no limit on the number of members. Come along and enjoy playing a wide range of lively music, including many well-known songs from pop and film. Recently, we have played music from Les Misérables, The Incredibles, ABBA, and Disney.

STRING ORCHESTRA (Friday 08.45)
We play a mix of mostly classical music and also accompany the choir for some pieces. Members of the String Orchestra also join the main orchestra at 10:00am. Anyone can join, but you need to be Grade 5 or higher to participate. There might be a short, informal audition to help decide your seating position. Recently, we have played music by Grieg, Faure, Vivaldi, and “Driving Test” from How to Train Your Dragon

ORCHESTRA (Friday 10.00)
Strings, winds, and brass come together in the second half of Friday morning to play a range of classical and other repertoire. Recently, we have performed music by Tchaikovsky and Dvorak, provided orchestral accompaniment for Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals, and played the opening numbers from Orff’s Carmina Burana.

SMALLER STUDENT-LED GROUPS
Students are encouraged to form a variety of smaller classical and rock/pop ensembles.
We typically have student bands, string quartets, wind groups, and more. Bands prepare for a Band Night in March. During the autumn term, we help students establish and regularly rehearse their bands or ensembles, which can then count as their formal enrichment in the spring term. We’ll have a meeting in the first few weeks of term to organise this, accommodating student schedules. We provide two band practice rooms with equipment, but students need to bring their own guitars and leads.