The Upper Sixth cohort are a musical lot with eight talented students destined for a musical future, almost 10% of the year group! National Careers Week provides an opportunity for the Leighton Park community to reflect on the value of careers in the arts, including musical avenues, and to embrace their passions with confidence. Our younger students have been to see ‘Matilda the Musical’ (Year 8s) and ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ (Year 9), exposing them to professional stage craft through acting, music, set design, theatre management, graphic design, marketing and more!
As a school specialising in STEAM, our curriculum encourages students to combine the logical approach of the sciences with the creativity offered by the arts to develop skills in problem-solving, initiative, teamwork and resilience, which will be excellent preparation for life beyond school. That so many of our current Sixth Form are seeking to pursue courses in Music and Music Technology is a testament to the success of our approach.
Eliza is delighted to have been offered a prestigious scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston for Professional Music as well as a place at the Royal Northern College of Music for a Popular Music degree and the Royal College of Music for Classical Harp. Her array of musical talents are impressive and it is wonderful that her hard work and natural abilities have been celebrated with these offers. Also headed to America is Isi, with her own offer from Berklee for the same course as Eliza; it would be nice to have a familiar face stateside!
Leeds Conservatoire have recognised the proficiency of our Jazz trombone player, Freddie, whose skills extend to the piano too. Tom is also heading north to the University of Nottingham to continue his studies with the Cello through either Music or a join honours degree, Music and Philosophy. Sticking with strings, Micah is looking at courses for the Violin and for Musical Composition with the Universities of Durham and Southampton. Laura, a soloist on the Christmas release by the National Youth Choir, is headed to the University of Gloucestershire for Popular Music and finally, Alfie is looking forward to Music Technology at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
Director of Music and Media, Rosemary Scales, commented, “I am so proud of this group of students who have taken so many of the musical opportunities on offer at Leighton Park and really got the most out of our amazing facilities. Between them they have taken part in orchestra, senior choir, string ensemble, chamber choir, jazz groups, overseas music tours and supported each other and younger students in their musical journeys. It’s thrilling to witness the offers coming in; it’s exciting to know this is the next step into their musical futures.”
The School is Yamaha’s Flagship Education Partner and the only school in Europe to be part of their Education Partnership programme. The Music Department is also a Steinberg certified training centre and has an active education partnership with Sontronic microphones. Our students have access to three contemporary music classrooms, seven practice rooms, a media room with green screen and surround sound plus a Live Lounge recording studio. Over 60% of students learn at least one instrument from one of our 27 peripatetic music staff and there are frequent opportunities for performance through the engaging series of concerts at lunchtimes and evenings. The highlights of the music calendar include a biannual international music tour, a biannual musical theatre production, the annual House Music competition and the al fresco, Music for a Summer’s Evening, which is a wonderful way to wrap up the Summer term each year.
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