Music Report Christmas 2019/20
Music ‘hit the ground running’ again this academic year, with the Chapel Choir kicking things off with their pre-season rehearsal and subsequent performance at the opening Sunday Chapel.
| 13 Dec 2019 | |
| General |
Music ‘hit the ground running’ again this academic year, with the Chapel Choir kicking things off with their pre-season rehearsal and subsequent performance at the opening Sunday Chapel.
Musicians soon got into good routines and those stepping up to fill the shoes of those who had departed last summer. Similarly, those who joined a group for the first time, soon settled into their new roles, and as a result all of the school groups have improved enormously this term.
There were many highlights of the term; two students taking on the leading of an established ensemble for the first time, is a special landmark. Well done to Kate Grimsdale and Henry Willis for firstly volunteering to do this and then doing the job so well with the Lancaster Choir.
Remembrance Sunday is always a special day in the school calendar and this year was no exception. The department would like to thank the whole school for playing their part in marking this day in such an appropriate and dignified manner. Thanks of course must go to the choir for their contribution but in particular thanks must go to the team of Buglers who revived the CCF bugles. These bugles had not seen the light of day for well over 20 years, but the way the team played the Last Post and Reveille, it was well worth the wait.
Congratulations must go to the Jazz band who have reached the National Finals of the National Concert Band Festival, in Manchester, next April for the third successive year. Time will tell if they can get a hat trick of national Platinum awards!
There have been many other successful events for both the musical ensembles and individuals and not all can be mentioned here. Students can be assured though that their efforts have not gone unnoticed, with many an evening or weekend sacrificed for performances that have ranged from open day to welcoming the Bishop of Shrewsbury to Wrekin.
Hot off the press, this week 30 students secured a 100% pass rate in the individual instrumental exams we held on Monday and Tuesday. 87% of these gained a merit or better, setting a tremendous bar for the rest of the year, well done to all involved.
Final ‘thank yous’ must go to the tremendous team of peripatetic staff who guide our musicians and to all who were involved in the Charity Concert and the recent Christmas concert which have bolstered the school’s Severn Hospice fund.
As the department, (fingers crossed), depart from Woodthorne and look forward to pastures new, it would be wrong not to congratulate all of you who have handled the commuting to and from Woodthorne in the mature and sensible manner you have. Thank you also to the teaching staff who have accommodated the slight increase in disruption to lessons the extra distance has created so amicably. The department look forward to the next more settled chapter in its new home.
Last but not least, the whole school can feel very proud of what was a brilliant House Singing event in October. Whilst the 5 houses who all came second have to, this year, doff their cap to the mighty Tudor, everyone involved can head to the Christmas break knowing that 2019 was the best yet.
Simon Platford
Musicians soon got into good routines and those stepping up to fill the shoes of those who had departed last summer. Similarly, those who joined a group for the first time, soon settled into their new roles, and as a result all of the school groups have improved enormously this term.
There were many highlights of the term; two students taking on the leading of an established ensemble for the first time, is a special landmark. Well done to Kate Grimsdale and Henry Willis for firstly volunteering to do this and then doing the job so well with the Lancaster Choir.
Remembrance Sunday is always a special day in the school calendar and this year was no exception. The department would like to thank the whole school for playing their part in marking this day in such an appropriate and dignified manner. Thanks of course must go to the choir for their contribution but in particular thanks must go to the team of Buglers who revived the CCF bugles. These bugles had not seen the light of day for well over 20 years, but the way the team played the Last Post and Reveille, it was well worth the wait.
Congratulations must go to the Jazz band who have reached the National Finals of the National Concert Band Festival, in Manchester, next April for the third successive year. Time will tell if they can get a hat trick of national Platinum awards!
There have been many other successful events for both the musical ensembles and individuals and not all can be mentioned here. Students can be assured though that their efforts have not gone unnoticed, with many an evening or weekend sacrificed for performances that have ranged from open day to welcoming the Bishop of Shrewsbury to Wrekin.
Hot off the press, this week 30 students secured a 100% pass rate in the individual instrumental exams we held on Monday and Tuesday. 87% of these gained a merit or better, setting a tremendous bar for the rest of the year, well done to all involved.
Final ‘thank yous’ must go to the tremendous team of peripatetic staff who guide our musicians and to all who were involved in the Charity Concert and the recent Christmas concert which have bolstered the school’s Severn Hospice fund.
As the department, (fingers crossed), depart from Woodthorne and look forward to pastures new, it would be wrong not to congratulate all of you who have handled the commuting to and from Woodthorne in the mature and sensible manner you have. Thank you also to the teaching staff who have accommodated the slight increase in disruption to lessons the extra distance has created so amicably. The department look forward to the next more settled chapter in its new home.
Last but not least, the whole school can feel very proud of what was a brilliant House Singing event in October. Whilst the 5 houses who all came second have to, this year, doff their cap to the mighty Tudor, everyone involved can head to the Christmas break knowing that 2019 was the best yet.
Simon Platford
