Children’s band created in a day

Pupils from different schools across the region brought their brass and woodwind instruments to the Music School for a workshop day with CH pupils and staff creating a 50 strong band which also tested its performance skills in front of an audience of parents and teachers.

The 9 – 11 year olds took part in three workshops designed to bring the best out of the individual musicians - Brass (led by the Head of Brass, Steve Tichener), Woodwind (by Head of Woodwind, Sandra Gamba) finishing with a combined workshop when all the children worked together on the pieces they had prepared: Yellow Submarine (words and music by Lennon and McCartney, arr by Eric Osterling) and Another One Bites the Dust (words and music by John Deacon, arr by Michael Sweeney).

Andrew Cleary, Director of Music said: “Following the success of the creative music-making day last summer and the choral day in the spring, we arranged this day especially for brass and woodwind players. Within a space of just a few hours, this mixed ability group learnt, practiced and performed their pieces to a large audience with confidence and flair.”

One of the 12 schools that took part, Manor Field School in Burgess Hill, said: “Thank you so much for the wonderful day at Christ’s Hospital. Our four children thoroughly enjoyed the experience of learning and playing their instruments as part of the brass and woodwind band.”

Christ’s Hospital offers more bursaries and scholarships than any other independent boarding school in the country. This year, the Sir Colin Davis Scholarship has been introduced to offer a life-changing educational experience to a talented musician entering into Year 7, 9 or the Sixth Form. Sir Colin Davis (1927-2013) was a pupil at Christ’s Hospital and went on to be a conductor, best known for his association with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Report contributed by Christ’s Hospital. Pictures by Toby Phillips.