A hugely busy term in the Music Department began with the Year 7 Fawlty Towers Restaurant Experience, which featured four stellar soloists entertaining the assembled diners with songs from the 70s, in-between the fantastically entertaining sketches. Jude, Monty, Ardra and Hetty gave splendid performances of songs including The Sound of Silence.
A group of our orchestral musicians made the short trip to Lancing College for their annual Orchestral Day, where assembled forces from other local prep schools spent the day rehearsing music and discovering new ways of playing their instruments. The day culminated with a performance for parents in their magnificent chapel – the largest school chapel in the world! It’s always gratifying to see our musicians meeting and working with their peers from other schools to produce something spectacular. We look forward to attending other events next year.
Our guitarists have been out in force this term, with a concert from Mr Callow’s pupils early on in the term and several other musicians taking part in the Rock ‘n’ Pop Concert. Our rock band brought this concert to a close with a medley of hits, including Blondie’s ‘Call me’.
Pupils in Years 3 & 4 took to the stage just before half term with a production of ‘Bedtime Stories’, featuring the songs ‘The Bare Necessities’ and ‘A smile and a song’. The vibrancy and colour of these productions was something to behold, and we can look forward to many more fantastic productions from these children.
Moving to the Pre-Prep, it was the turn of children in Year 2 to perform at the culmination of their first year of learning the recorder. It was lovely to hear from each child, and especially those who demonstrated what they’d been learning on their other instruments, too. All children in Year 2 have been given the opportunity to try a selection of orchestral instruments as part of their class lessons this year, including the flute, clarinet, trumpet, cello and violin, receiving two lessons on each. We hope that this might inspire those who’d like to take their musical education further. As ever, we are happy to hear from anyone who would like to sign up for lessons.
The Summer Performance Platform was a great opportunity for several children to showcase what they had been learning this term, including several children preparing for exams. Talking of exams, we still await the music theory results, but ‘well done’ to all who took practical exams this term, and special congratulations to the following children who received Distinctions:
Hebe Singing Grade 6
Rufus Singing Grade 4
James Organ Grade 3
Dan Singing Grade 2
Tabitha Piano Grade 1
On Friday 21 June, music could be heard from every corner of the school as the Inter-Patrol Music Competition took over the day. Over 250 performances from pupils across Years 3-8 saw many children performing for the first time, and for those seasoned performers it was a chance to show their peers what they have achieved this year. Tiered classes across the day saw children compete for patrol points. Our adjudicators for the day were Jonathan Ling, Director of Music at Christ’s College Brecon, David McKee, Director of Music at Charterhouse, and Jason Marconi, Director of Music at Dorset House, all of whom were blown away by the breadth of performances and levels of musicianship on show throughout the day. The culmination of the day, the Open Class, saw our most advanced musicians competing to be named Westbourne Musician of the Year. It was wonderful to have the whole school in the audience to witness this most impressive of classes, which our adjudicators found hugely difficult to judge. However, after an impressive performance of Squire’s Bourree on the cello, Hazel (Year 7) was announced as this year’s winner. Congratulations to her, and to everyone who took part over the course of the day.
It has been a pleasure for us to take some of our Year 7 musicians out of school to entertain residents and visitors at Lakeview Grange Care Home and Terry’s Place. Continuing our association with Lakeview, we arrived to a capacity audience in their day room, who enjoyed performances from several instrumentalists and some songs from members of the Chapel Choir. Terry’s Place, one of our school charities this year, provides respite care for the elderly and infirm and their carers. It was lovely to perform for some of their visitors and again we hope to return next year, whilst also looking to build ties with another local care home.
The following week saw Mrs Rowe’s piano pupils give their termly concert, with some lovely performances from pupils from Westbourne and beyond. It was then the turn of Y6 to give their annual Informal Concert to parents. Featuring percussion pieces from each of the three Y6 classes, along with some lovely solos from George (trumpet), James (piano) and singing from Mrs Dichmont’s pupils among others. This concert is always a lovely showcase of the year group’s work. Well done to all!
The last week of term began with the Leavers’ Service, led by the Chapel Choir, who sang Wesley’s Lead me, Lord, Goodall’s Love Divine, and Rutter’s The Lord Bless You and Keep You. Always a moving event, it was good to welcome David Wickes, Headmaster of Portsmouth Grammar School to preach.
Our Year 8s, having had a week of sun, sea and sand on their residential trip, were back into the thick of things for their production of Bugsy Malone. This show, entirely put together in the two weeks post-Common Entrance, is always a hit, with catchy songs and exuberant dance routines. This year was no exception, with stand-out performances from Ellie (Bugsy), Safia (Blousey), Sam (Fat Sam) and Sienna (Tallulah). The professional band added a really authentic sound to proceedings and the chorus really went to town with their singing and dancing. Congratulations to all.
The School Concert, always a highlight of the school year, took place on the penultimate day of term and featured all of our ensembles, together with a number of outstanding soloists. The Orchestra kicked proceedings off with the theme from Amadeus (Mozart) and an arrangement of Lord of the Dance, whilst the Junior Choir ended the first half with three Scottish folk songs including Touch the Sky and Aiken Drum, complete with backing from the Drum Group, Mr Soothill on guitar and Mrs Peskett on the ‘fiddle’! The Rock Band opened the second half, whilst the Chapel Choir brought the evening to a close with Mozart’s Laudate DominumI, Bridge Over Troubled Water and a dramatic performance of Percy Grainger’s arrangement of Lost Lady Found. There were also performances from the Brass Group, Swing Band, String Trio and Y7 chamber ensemble.
Lastly, after term ended a group of our Chapel Choir choristers came back to school to lead the music at the memorial service for Mr Colin Sharman, the founding Headmaster of Westbourne House. A large number of guests filled the Millennium Hall and raised the roof with the hymns I vow to thee my country and Guide me, O thou Great Redeemer, whilst the choir sang two anthems: God be in my head and John Rutter’s The Lord Bless Your And Keep You. It was a fitting tribute to Mr Sharman, who was Headmaster for 28 years and served as a governor for many years afterwards.
