Music & Performing Arts

In 2017/2018, theatre productions for the year included The Wizard of Oz (presented by the Lower School) and Once Upon a Time… Before the Internet and Fantastic Mr Fox (presented by the Middle School). The High School performed the intense South African drama, Boo to the Moon, a spine-tingling production of the musical Little Shop of Horrors, and also presented an evening of six ten-minute plays (some of which were written and directed by the students). The Drama 2 class gave three performances of The Ruff Guide to Shakespeare to students and parents. The IB Theatre first year students again created and managed The Haunted House at the PSO’s annual Trunk or Treat event.

We were fortunate to enjoy the expertise of Artist-in-Residence Simone Lewis, who spent time in each of the divisions, but also worked directly with HS students on two productions as well as The Haunted House.

This year, several MS students attended the MS ISTA Festival at the Eden Project in Cornwall, along with students from several other schools across the world. Our IB Theatre students attended the annual three-day ISTA TAPS in Stratford-upon-Avon, and went in to London to see The Ferryman. Several students also entered and passed Trinity Drama Exams.

Our music programme was equally as busy, with a series of Lower School, Middle School and High School recitals, grade level music assemblies and concerts, as well as our annual combined cross-divisional Choir and Instrumental Concerts, the Winter Holiday Pops, and the Summer Concert. This year we again celebrated International Day of Peace with a joint performance by students from each of the divisions at a special assembly held in the courtyard for the whole school. In November, we hosted a World Arts Festival with Tango and Kathakali workshops and presentations. Also in November, our Middle School singers competed in the 2017 Woking Festival, winning first place in their category and The Swallow Shield for best school choir under 15!

In March, our Lower, Middle and High School choirs joined thousands of young singers at the Wembley Arena to celebrate Voice in a Million. In March, we also hosted a three-day Marimba Camp, with students joining us from around Scandinavia. Several of our HS and MS students also shared their musical talents on two occasions with the patients and staff at Princess Alice Hospice in Esher. We also presented a Jazz Evening, featuring performances by Middle and High School students, as well as guests from Tiffin Boys School. Finally, the High School Marimba Band performed at the Bracknell Food Festival in June.

As always, several of our students also completed ABRSM and Trinity music exams, and showcased their work at a special evening concert. This year, we also hosted three Rock Band workshop days.