Scholars’ Concert
The start of term saw our music and drama scholars take to the stage in preparation for their respective senior school scholarships. Performances by instrumentalists were interspersed with extracts from Shakespeare and others in a wonderfully varied showcase of talent.
World Music Workshops
Once again we were thrilled to welcome back world music expert Jim Bernadin to lead workshops with Years 3, 4 and 5. This year, the focus was the music of the Caribbean, particularly the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. With an orchestra of steel pans and various other percussion instruments, the children had a great time getting into the Calypso spirit as part of International Week. The concert in the afternoon even saw some parents getting involved!
Inter-Patrol Music Competition
The school was buzzing with excitement as the Inter-Patrol Music Competition roared into action. Music rang out from venues across the school, with all children who have instrumental lessons taking part, earning a point for their patrol in the process. Our adjudicator for the morning session was Alex Mason, Director of Music at Lancing College, who commented that he was amazed to see so much music of such a high standard from children so young. In total, there were 254 performances across 33 classes.
The afternoon was dedicated to rehearsing for the evening’s entertainment, when all four patrols sang their hearts out in renditions of the Zulu traditional song Siyahamba, and Bob Merrill’s Mambo Italiano, keeping with our International Week theme. Each of the four patrols were also represented by three instrumental ensembles from across the year groups, who all performed confidently in front of an audience of about 400!
Jemima Whitehead, who competed on violin, viola, classical guitar and piano over the course of the competition, was named Westbourne Musician of the Year for a spellbinding performance of Glasunov’s Elegie on Viola, which she repeated in the evening to rapturous applause. She will be taking her Grade 8 exam later this term, has just been awarded a Music Scholarship to Lancing College and plays with the County Youth Orchestra. Congratulations to her!
Headmaster Martin Barker said "Our dedicated and enthusiastic students have learnt that having the courage to play an instrument or sing in front of an audience is an incredible experience and just getting up to do it gives them an enormous sense of achievement. Congratulations to our music department who made this a day to remember for us all.”
The day can be summed up with a comment from one pupil who took part in a beginner class, “It was the most nerve-racking thing I have ever done … but I loved it all.”
