The Music Department
Instrumental Music
Over 350 individual music lessons are given each week by 18 highly qualified instrumental and vocal teachers. Tuition is available on the following instruments:
piano, voice, violin, viola, cello, classical guitar, harp, flute, recorder, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, brass.
Music scholarships
These lessons are subject to additional fees but girls with a musical talent may apply for a music scholarship, which covers instrumental tuition (usually on one instrument) free of charge. Music awards are available at UIII (Year 7), LV (Year 10) and the Sixth Form, or upon entry to the school if at a different time.
Extra-curricular music
The Music Department offers an extensive range of musical activities to cater for the needs of all pupils. Most meet every week and are open to anyone who wishes to join; some ensembles are run by the academic music staff, some by our excellent team of visiting instrumental staff and some ensembles are run by 6th formers; the only ensemble that requires an audition for membership is the Orchestra. The ensembles on offer this academic year include:
Ensembles for advanced musicians:
Orchestra (after school – membership by audition)
Choir (lunchtime and after school)
Concert Band (lunchtime)
Flute Ensemble(lunchtime)
Various chamber ensembles, e.g. string quartets, L4 chamber music club (mainly lunchtime)
Ensembles for younger musicians or mixed ages and abilities:
Wind Ensemble (lunchtime)
Chamber Strings (lunchtime)
Brass Ensemble (lunchtime)
Saxophone Ensemble (lunchtime)
Guitar Ensemble (lunchtime)
Clarinet Ensemble (lunchtime)
Lower School Chamber Choir (lunchtime)
Singing Club (lunchtime)
Every other year the school stages a whole-school musical production. These often involve more than 100 girls and are cast entirely for the school. In recent years the productions have been:
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2007 Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Gondoliers
2005 Lerner & Loewe’s My Fair Lady
2004 Henry Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas (6th Form production)
2003 Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado
2001 Gilbert & Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore
