15 October 2024
Mr Richard Hammond-Hall, Director of Music
Since our annual dinner for music scholars in September, we’ve enjoyed a first half of term packed with musical performances, as well as the first in a series of masterclasses and a workshop led by expert guest musicians.
We began with our Music Scholars’ Recital, which showcased the wonderful talent of our 23 scholars (see photo in gallery below). They gave poised and confident performances across a range of musical styles, eight instruments, including voice, as well as one scholar’s composition.
Our GCSE and A Level Music Recital was a chance for academic musicians to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Students in Year 11 and Upper Sixth seized the opportunity to get their performance coursework in the bag early, presenting a wide range of music from a piece for violin by Tchaikovsky to a song from the musical Miss Saigon.
This year, the Music Department is hosting a Masterclass Series, delivered by world-renowned musicians. It was a pleasure to welcome pianist Andrew Quartermain to lead our inaugural masterclass, where eight student pianists impressed with an eclectic programme of pianistic nuance and virtuosity.
GCSE and A Level composers were inspired by internationally acclaimed composer Cecilia McDowall at a workshop, where they spent an afternoon looking under the bonnet of the compositional process as well as exchanging music, ideas and industry know-how (see photo below).
Jazz and Pop Night (main photo) saw the Millenium Centre Live Lounge and upstairs foyer transformed into a Soho-esque jazz club. Accompanied by a professional function band, student vocalists dazzled the audience, who enjoyed the show from the comfort of cabaret tables (more photos in gallery below).
In a very special performance in the Recital Room, Lilico, Nicole and Andrea played for Mrs Cicelie Bowman on an organ she very kindly donated to Woldingham in memory of her husband, Bob, who was a church organist for 70 years. Mrs Bowman was very moved to hear the girls play and delighted that the organ has a new home, where it will be played regularly.
Alongside all this, Woldingham musicians have proudly supported this term’s Days of Reflection at Wintershall, with Emily and Anjali (Year 8), Antonina (Year 9), Catherine (Year 10), and Sephora (Upper Sixth) leading the singing of the psalms, and instrumentalists from each year group accompanying their peers. Ably directed by Mr Peter Sparks, our Chapel Choir and Instrumental Ensemble have led the music at Sunday Masses.
Our music scholars performed at each school assembly, with a notable highlight the celebration of Black History Month, where Nancy, Norien and Megan accompanied Head Girl Onome in a toe-tapping rendition of I wish I knew how it would feel to be free.
Parents and guardians feeling inspired by our student musicians can sign up here to perform at our Spring Concert Music is for Life in March 2025.
