Page 38 - Demo

2024-2025 was an especially busy year for the Music Department with a number of additional events on top of the regular performances. The Autumn term saw many enjoyable musical activities starting with Upper School performing their infectiously rhythmic song %u2018Harvest Samba%u2019 at the Harvest Festival. The Senior High March Voices were kept especially busy performing two-part anthems at both Harvest and Barnardo%u2019s Choir of the Year Competition alongside performances at other key events over the course of the term. Another high-profile event of the Autumn term was the annual carol service, held in St Mary%u2019s and All Saints Church. This started with a delightful unaccompanied first verse solo of %u2018Once In Royal David%u2019s City%u2019 by the Year 6 soloist and was followed by each year group performing a carol or anthem. As well as some very accomplished readings by Year 6, the whole of Upper School came together at the end to successfully sing John Rutter%u2019s arrangement of the %u2018Shepherd%u2019s Pipe Carol%u2019. The Spring term was, if anything, even busier than the Autumn term with the girls participating in a huge variety of musical events. One of the highlights was Year 5 performing a wonderful lunchtime recital at the United Reformed Church put together by one of our singing teachers, Mrs Tudor Williams. Another highlight of both the Spring and Summer terms was the annual singing picture and shields for each year group from Year 2 up to Year 6. Each girl had to perform a set song as a solo in front of the Headmistress and Director of Music and we were once again astounded and delighted by the confidence and ability of the girls in coping so well with such a challenge. A particularly notable event of the Summer term was girls from Year 5 being invited to take part in a concert at St Mary%u2019s Church to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE and VJ day. This was another wonderful opportunity for the girls to gain experience performing in front of a packed audience, and they certainly didn%u2019t disappoint. The girls also provided the semi chorus to a specially commissioned piece, which involved the St Mary%u2019s Choir, soloists and a professional orchestra, providing a particularly emotional finale to this most poignant concert. The final major musical event of the Summer term was the two Prize Giving ceremonies. The senior ceremony was the Year 6%u2019s final musical ensemble event as High March pupils and the girls (joined by Year 5) provided an emotional yet powerful performance of %u2018Look At The World%u2019 which was wonderfully received by the parents and staff. There were also very assured solo performances at both ceremonies from both the outgoing and newly appointed Music Scholars. Well done to all the girls who have taken part in the musical events over the course of the year and I look forward to an even more successful year in 2025-2026. MUSICMr Hayes %u2013 Director of Music38