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Music The practical aspect of music is a vital ingredient and during the course of a week nearly two hundred individual music lessons are given in school. We have an extensive range of peripatetic staff, some of whom are provided by SELB Music Service the others being private teachers with many years teaching experience. There is enormous scope for extra-curricular participation in Music. The school has three choirs; the Junior Choir (years 8-10) numbers about one hundred pupils and is open to all pupils without audition. Similarly, the Senior Choir numbers about one hundred pupils and members of staff and is open to all pupils in years 11-14. The Chamber Choir has a more intensive rehearsal schedule and is made up of about forty pupils who wish to work towards a very high level of performance for festivals and competitions. The Symphonic Wind Band numbers in excess of seventy pupils and the Royal String Orchestra is now larger than ever with approximately thirty members. There are also a number of smaller ensembles including a flute quartet and a clarinet quartet. Music is an important part of all major public events culminating in the annual Spring Concert just before Easter. Many of our players are involved in orchestras and bands out of school. Report 2009-2010 September - The first musical event of the year was Senior Prize Day. The Senior Choir performed Henry Smart's "The Lord is my Shepherd" and the Brass Ensemble accompanied the hymn, "Immortal Invisible", the School Song and the National Anthem. October - On Junior Prize Night the Junior Choir performed a medley of songs from the musical "Grease". December - On Sunday 6th December The Chamber Choir travelled to Cavan to perform at the Advent Carol Service in St. Fethlimidh's Cathedral. The full choir performed, "Il est né", "O Magnum Mysterium" and "Gaudete", in which Aisling Napier, Jane McConnell, Hannah Williamson and Sarah Kennedy each sang a solo. The girls of the Chamber Choir also performed "Away in a Manger", "In Dulci Jubilo" and "Tomorrow shall be my dancing Day". Report 2008-2009 September - On Senior Prize Day the Senior Choir performed ‘With a Voice of Singing’ by Martin Shaw. The Brass Ensemble accompanied the hymn, "In Christ Alone", the School Song and the National Anthem. October - The Junior Choir performed on Junior Prize Night, singing a medley of songs from Rodger and Hammerstein's musicals including songs from Oklahoma, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music. There were also a number of solo performances from some of the junior pupils with Janine Ferry (Clarinet), David McFarlane (Violin), Stephen Colbert (Trumpet) and Oscar Wong (Piano) all provided outstanding instrumental performances. December - The musical, The King and I, by Rodgers and Hammerstein was the next big musical event and involved a huge cast of singers and dancers. Amidst preparations for the musical rehearsals began for the annual Carol Service. As usual, the Junior Choir performed four pieces with two new works, the result of the annual carol competition which was won this year by Cherith Bartley with ‘O what a day!’ and ‘Nativity Carol’ by Alison Thompson. The Senior Choir’s two contrasting pieces, ‘Lute Book Lullaby’ and ‘Torches,’ enabled them to demonstrate the full gamut of affections and the Senior Girls’ Chamber Choir delivered a fine performance of de Pearsall’s In ‘Dulci Jubilo’. The service ended with the organ voluntary ‘Prelude on St Anne’ by J. S. Bach played by John Dilworth. The Chamber Choir also performed carols at Ashbrooke Nursing Home. February - The next event was the Music Festival and Spring Concert. The festival saw the Band on top form as they played the ‘John Williams Trilogy’ and an arrangement of ‘Dancing Queen’ while the Junior Choir won their class with ‘Another Openin'’, Another Show’ and ‘Elizabethan Serenade’. The Senior Girls’ Chamber Choir continued their successful run with a lovely arrangement of ‘Scarborough Fair’ followed by ‘All that Jazz’. March - The year's music events finished with the annual Spring Concert. The Spring Concert is always the most enjoyable event of the musical year. We have an amazing wealth of talent right through the school so it is an opportunity to have as many pupils performing as possible. Apart from the band, strings and choirs we now have several smaller ensembles with no less than twenty three players involved and that does not include piano duettists and some soloists. The programme is printed to acknowledge all those who made a contribution to this special event.
Visiting Teachers:
Spring Concert 2009 The Spring Concert is always the most enjoyable event of the musical year. We have an amazing wealth of talent right through the school so it is an opportunity to have as many pupils performing as possible. Apart from the band, strings and choirs we now have several smaller ensembles with no less than twenty three players involved and that does not include piano duettists and some soloists. The programme is printed to acknowledge all those who made a contribution to this special event.
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