It has been a busy term in the Music Department with a range of events and different performance opportunities. At the very beginning of term, Lillia-Rose in Year 10 won the Long Note Competition with an impressive time of 30 seconds on her French Horn, while the Year 7 Choir and Chamber Choir impressed prospective parents and students with a stunning performance of I am the Earth for the Open Morning, complemented by Rock Band’s renditions of Valerie and S.O.S. 

October began with the first Tea Time Concert of the academic year, with a range of solo performances from How Far I’ll Go from the film Moana to the Rondo from Mozart’s Horn Concerto in F major No. 4.  

The whole school came together for House Music in November, with many excellent performances in the individual and duet categories from singers and instrumentalists, and a set of extremely entertaining House Music Videos from students and staff based on a Eurovision theme. Adjudicator Mr Picton-Turbervill (an award-winning Guildhall and Cambridge musician) had quite a challenge choosing between all the excellent performances; before announcing Tiana To in Year 11 as winner of the individual categories; and Meridian’s adaptation of ABBA’s Waterloo as the best music video. Paragon was declared as the overall winning house after a strong turn out and participation in almost every category.   

To help prepare students for more formal performances, Mrs McGhee also organised a laid-back evening called ‘Broadway Babies’, where students were able to enjoy a range of offerings from musicals from Annie to We Will Rock You in a relaxed and supportive environment. 

The pinnacle was the annual Carol Concert in the Old Royal Naval College Chapel, with fantastic performances from Sinfonia, the Year 7 Choir, Chamber Choir, Need for Reed, Vocalise and an unforgettable rendition of Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’ by the Year 8 Glee Choir and Rock Band. The rafters were raised by congregational carols complete with organ and brass fanfares, which set the festive season off to a spectacular start. Read our coverage in Greenwich school delivers festive spirit with Christmas carol concerts, In Your Area.

Christmas is always the busiest time of year for the Music Department and we will not be putting our feet up until we have been carol singing at Westcombe Park Care Home, leading carols around the piano on the final day of term and letting Rock Band loose on the Christmas assembly. 

Many congratulations to everyone who has been involved in a performance this term and a huge well done for your dedication to your practice and rehearsals! And very well done to those students who sat their ABRSM instrumental and singing exams this term for a very strong set of results. 

Written by Mrs C Butterworth, Director of Music