Music
Making Notes in the Library
The wonderful Ella in Year 7
performed a varied programme
to pupils and staff in the library
at the end of last term. Her
emotive playing left us in awe of
her phenomenal musicianship.
Informal Lunchtime Concerts in the Hall
Fancy challenging yourself to perform in front of others
but a little nervous? Come and speak to Mrs Potter to play
a little extract of something that you have been teaching
yourself to play on the piano or a riff you have learnt in your
lessons with Adam?
Glyndebourne Orchestra Workshop
Musicians from our orchestra were given the fantastic
opportunity to meet musicians from Glyndebourne Orchestra.
They delighted us with a beautiful, varied concert of a new
composition and a horn concerto. We then had the opportunity
to rehearse ‘Sleigh Ride’ with the Glyndebourne musicians
playing alongside our pupils!
Page 10
Newsletter 3 - December 2024
Les Choristes
50 members of the school choir were selected to sing at
the FILM Concert a few weeks ago alongside the Hastings
Sinfonia, Derk Carden and Polo Piatti. The choir sang three
beautiful songs from the film ‘Les Choristes’. These were all
in French. Our very own Miss Tester (French teacher) and
myself (Mrs Byrne) prepared these pupils for over two months
for this prestigious concert and they did not disappoint. It
was outstanding, so much so they received an encore!! Both
Miss Tester and myself are extremely proud of what they all
achieved on that day. We will be singing two of these songs at
the Advent Service too.
Piano and Voice Recital
We had the pleasure of hosting our annual Piano & Voice
Recital at the beginning of this term. We are so lucky
to have such great peripatetic teachers in our school
who provide such excellent teaching for our pupils. Both
Helen Ridout and Lizzii Hills worked solidly with our
pianists and vocalists to produce an evening of high
quality performances. It was a joy to witness. Well done
to all of our musicians involved. We look forward to more
performances in our annual music concert in March.
We are pleased to have welcomed the musicians from the
British Army who performed for the whole of the Year 8 cohort.
We have been focussing on BRASS instruments with this year
group and hope that some of them will take the opportunity to
come to Brass Club after Christmas or have some instrumental
lessons to further develop their playing. We have been really
encouraged by their progress this term. Well done, Year 8.
Exam Results:
Congratulations to:
Miguel - Grade 8 Piano Pass
Sholto - Grade 2 Piano Merit
Emilia in Year 8 represented
Hastings and East Sussex
with 993 other children from
around the country playing
the violin at the Royal Albert
Hall - CONGRATULATIONS
Coming up…..
Annual Music Concert
March 6th
Mrs Byrne, Subject Leader Music
Conducting Workshop with Dr Shelley Katz and
Concert
During the first week of this term we were extremely
lucky to have Dr Shelley Katz at St Richard’s to deliver
a conducting workshop for 14 of our musicians. Pupils
learnt how to conduct in 2,3 and 4 beat patterns. They
used batons and had a chance to use the innovative
conducting programme that he had invented.
That same evening pupils, staff and parents/carers were
invited to a concert to listen to a collection of suppressed
musical works from the Holocaust. We learnt the stories of
brave musicians, who fought to keep music alive in such
a difÏcult time and listened to the premier of these works
performed by Dr Shelley Katz with his conducting software
as well as hearing the beautiful voice of Adaya Peled.