The Summer Term is always packed with activity for musicians – with no fewer than seven different public performances scheduled for our ensemble groups and orchestras.

Students who might not immediately perceive themselves as “musical” may have surprised themselves. Not only did Year Eights compose and perform their own symphonies – every single student in years Seven to Nine prepared an instrumental or vocal performance for the end of year exams. These were individually listened to and assessed by either Mr Olive or Miss Romero, in addition to the group papers, taken by all tutor groups, in Composition and Music Listening.

The Performing element is an important part of the end of year assessment, because communication of ideas is such an integral part of the study of music. Students who learn an instrument as part of their extra-curricular activities already have practice in this – but it doesn’t mean they automatically score higher marks than those who don’t. How they use the instrument they have chosen to communicate the ideas behind their piece is as important as technical correctness. The progress of the individual is also taken very much into account. Many of the students chose to present their own compositions, either alone, or with a group of friends, and this led to some very exciting performances. Electric, acoustic, classical, heavy rock, percussion, woodwind, strings or brass instruments and styles were all explored in numerous combinations – demonstrating the infinite variety of creativity that’s constantly being explored in Elyanore House.

Our ensemble groups and extra curricular activities are also moving from strength to strength. Preparations for the Summer Concert have been carrying on, with many of our orchestral and Big Band players coming in from study leave to rehearse. First Orchestra have been working on Haydn’s Clock Symphony, while the Full Orchestra’s repertoire has been extended to include the final movement of the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony. Life in choir has been busy as ever, with repertoire to prepare for the tour of La Rochelle. The younger members of the choir have started learning John Rutter’s opera “Bang” which is being produced by a team of our current Year Elevens in the Autumn Term.

Musicians will be playing at Speech Day; at the Old Colcestrians’ Day; at the SCITT evening for trainee teachers and at the Year Seven Induction day during the run up to the summer holiday. Mr Plackett’s guitar ensemble will be taking part in the Colne Valley Orchestra’s annual event at the school – and Big Band already has a booking to play for the CRGSA next term.

It was particularly pleasing to witness the enthusiasm of a group of our lower school students who were invited to provide entertainment at the Social Evening held in the hall for the parents of next year’s Year Sevens. Members of Miss Romero’s Junior Strings and Junior Winds Ensembles played and sang in various combinations at the start of the evening – then stayed on to talk to visitor. As ambassadors for music at CRGS they were superb – speaking with great eloquence and sincerity about the joys of instrumental learning and ensemble playing. One of the most important messages communicated by the boys was that music is not just for an elite selection of expert players – several of them demonstrated how, with a little help and encouragement, even a newcomer to an instrument can make a pleasing sound and have a great deal of fun into the bargain.

Mr L Olive