This half term began in some style with the much anticipated Year 2 Instrumental Concerts, featuring some memorable performances from pupils in Mrs Lovejoy’s and Mrs Temple’s classes. The recorder is a great instrument on which to learn the basic rudiments of music, although admittedly not often pleasant to the ears right at the beginning! All of Year 2 have progressed with their playing this year, alongside enjoying some singing and aural games. They will carry on their recorder tuition next term.
The same week saw our budding Glastonbury headliners take to the stage at the Rock Band Concert. This featured a number of groups of varying sizes playing music such as R.E.M's The One I Love and Muse's Starlight.
The week ended with the Summer Performance Platform, including a few pupils whose exams were just around the corner such as Alexis, playing Fiocco’s Andante on the piano and William (viola) playing the traditional spiritual Were You There?. Both pupils went on to successfully pass their Grade V exam with a merit and distinction respectively: no mean feat.
Pupils in Year 6 gave a great concert to parents showcasing what they had been preparing in their class music lessons this term. The three sets each performed their own percussion piece (two of which were composed by our own Mr Berkley) and there were solos from Xander and Marissa (trumpet) and Molly (guitar). The children have done fantastically well this term, especially as for a few it was their first experience of reading musical notation. Congratulations to all!
The Year 8 production of Matilda, put together in just two weeks after their exams, was a roaring success. Alice was brilliant in the title role, supported by a terrific cast including a mesmerising Jasmin as Miss Trunchbull. This was followed the next day by the Leavers’ Service where the Chapel Choir, led by the departing Year 8s gave moving performances of Rutter’s The Lord Bless You and Keep You and Howard Goodall’s Love Divine.
The last week of term kicked off with the second Inter-Patrol Music Competition of the year, this time for individual instrumentalists. Judging over 200 performances between them, our adjudicators for the day were Kevin Weaver (Head of Academic Music at Cranleigh School), Katie Thomas (Vocal Coach, BBC Symphony Chorus) and Dafydd Hughes (Freelance teacher and performer). There were some marvellous performances across the year groups, with the experience of the performers spanning from beginners, who have only started learning their instruments this term, to the more experienced musicians, who had their chance to shine in the Open Class. This class was won by Jasmin, with an assured performance of Mozart’s Rondo alla Turca on the piano, which saw her named Westbourne Musician of the Year.
No sooner had the competition finished, we were straight into final rehearsals for the Summer Concert – always a highlight of the musical year. The concert featured performances from Orchestra, Junior, Senior and Chapel Choirs, various ensembles including Junior and Senior Brass Bands, Rock Band and the String Quartet, as well as a number of accomplished soloists. It was a wonderful way to end the year and celebrate all that has been achieved since post-Covid school resumed. We wish all of our musicians a restful holiday, with some music practice thrown in!
