Music

My name is Amelia, I am in year 13 and I am a classical singer. My two favourite genres to sing are musical theatre and opera as they allow me to create a character and really perform my pieces. At SWPS, I am part of the Chamber and Vox Choirs as well as sixth form Ukulele Band. I love singing and playing in these groups as I enjoy learning all of the different material and expanding my repertoire whilst interacting with likeminded musicians. Outside of SWPS, I am part of Surrey Youth Choir and enjoy regularly performing with them. I am currently studying A-Level Music, Geography and English Literature and after 6th form, I am hoping to study music at university.

My name is Grace and I play piano and flute. My favourite pieces are the Vltava (Moldau) by Bedrich Smetana, The Nutcracker Suite by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Die Fledermaus Overture by Johann Srauss II, Movement Three from Sonata in C Sharp Minor by Ludwig van Beethoven and Prelude in C Sharp Minor by Sergei Rachmaninov. However, I also really like many of the pieces written by George Phillip Telemann, Clara Schumann, Erik Satie, Frederic Chopin, Claude Debussy and Johannes Brahms. At SWPS I enjoy singing in the School Choir and playing in the School Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. This is because I love hearing the pieces we perform come together in rehearsals as well as performing in end of term concerts and spending time with my friends in between performances. Outside of SWPS I play in the Surrey Youth County Orchestra, which I love playing in very much, as we get to play higher level orchestral pieces (such as the Vltava and The Nutcracker Suite). I also participate in the Guildford Youth Symphony Orchestra which is incredible as we learn complex pieces (such as Die Fledermaus Overture) and perform them in a concert after learning them for a couple of days. Although I love music so much, I wish to study Physics, Maths, Further Maths and French at the sixth form in SWPS and hopefully study Physics at university. However, I know that I will never stop playing musical instruments in orchestras, small ensemble or by myself because music has always been such a big part of my life and I feel that the music department at SWPS allow me to express my passion for music and develop my skills for performing as well as support me in whatever I want to do, music related or not.

My name is Seung-A and I play the cello (ABRSM Diploma), piano (Grade 7), and drums (Grade 4). As a Music Scholar, I am provided with a multitude of opportunities to play in ensembles and concerts to both showcase and develop my musical ability. At SWPS, I am part of the Symphony Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra. To me, they are opportunities to improve my ability to work in a team; as Principal Cellist, I lead my fellow cellists during rehearsals and termly concerts, and with the whole orchestra, I improve my ability to sight-read and play together in a group. Additionally, outside of SWPS, I am part of the Surrey County Youth Orchestra which provides me with a challenging repertoire that allows me to improve my technique constantly. I am currently in Year 11, but in 6^th Form, I am going to study Latin, Ancient Greek, English Literature, and Mathematics. I hope to go to the University of Oxford for a degree in Classics and English.

One of my favourite pieces to play is Prayer: Andante moderato by Ernest Bloch, who is, undoubtedly, one of the greatest Swiss composers in history. Using his strong neoclassical style, he composed a considerable amount of works on Jewish themes, among them being From Jewish Life, a set of three short movements written in 1924, with the first of these movements being Prayer: Andante moderato. With aspects of an intensely sung prayer, or a hymn of imploration, this piece captures the complex and passionate Jewish spirit and soul upon which his manifesto was fixed: it is an emotionally powerful and expressive plea for peace with its sinuous, twisting melody and evoking chromatics – the style of a traditional synagogue chant. The muted, wistful ambience of this piece is emphasised by the heavy vibrato, romantic-style rubato, and the constant undulation of the dynamics to create a prayer of grief, bitterness, abandonment, and despair. Ending in an imperfect cadence, Bloch prolongs the final note, holding onto hope that, one day, someone will hear the prayer – a message of imminent return.

My name is Bella and I am a music scholar here as SWPS. I have always loved exploring different instruments and started playing the violin and recorder at the age of 5. Along the way I have picked up a few other instruments and I currently play the Flute and various percussion instruments. Some of my favourite pieces to play include Poulenc’s Flute Sonata and Csárdás by Monti. At SWPS, I play in the Flute Choir and I am also part of the Chamber Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra which many of my friends are also part of. We have a wide range of instruments and currently the music department has created an “A Night at the Movies” theme where different musical groups will perform pieces such as Bohemian Rhapsody, The Hobbit and the Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Waltz at our next Spring Concert.

Being a music scholar has provided me many opportunities to perform in front of an audience; my name is Eden and I attend the chamber choir and the melba senior choir (as well as having piano lessons outside of school). This has improved my confidence and my repertoire of music. For example, I have found a deep interest in songs by Henry Purcell as they have a beautifully haunting tone with challenging, melismatic lines. I am also grateful for the advanced equipment and facilities in the music department that has enabled me to fascinating, sophisticated experiences during musical activities such as rehearsals, concerts and recordings. Overall, I think that the music scholar department is important because it creates a community that brings together students with the same ambitions.

My name is Erin and I play the clarinet and tenor saxophone. One of my favourite pieces to play is Saint-Saëns’ Sonata for clarinet, however, I also find Spohr’s clarinet concertos particularly enjoyable to play. On saxophone, I love to explore a variety of genres, including classical and jazz.

At SWPS, I take part in a wide range of ensembles: school orchestra, chamber orchestra, sax quartet, sax group and clarinet crew. I am able to participate in concerts regularly with these groups, and as a soloist: this gives me the opportunity to improve my ensemble skills and gain confidence in performing, which I find invaluable.

Outside of SWPS, I participate in the Surrey County Youth Orchestra, which challenges me to explore a wider repertoire of music and gain experience playing in a full-size symphony orchestra.

My name is Nina and I play the cello and I sing. Some of my favourite pieces to play are Mendelssohn’s Song Without Words and Saint-Saëns’s The Swan – the melodies are simple but convey so much emotion, and the structure of the pieces tell a story effortlessly. At SWPS I am in School Orchestra, Chamber Choir and Vox choir – they are a great way to have fun with friends and do more music outside of class. I’m studying music for GCSE, and really enjoying it; composition is something I haven’t had an opportunity to do before, and I’m really enjoying learning it both as a new academic skill and as a way of expressing creativity. After I leave school, I plan on doing lots of music at university – I am very passionate and I can’t imagine a life without it!

My name is Kaitlin and I play the violin (grade 8) and piano (grade 5). Some of my favourite pieces are composed by Edward Elgar. I particularly enjoy the different styles of music (some extremely emotional and meaningful whereas some are chaotic). I find some of Elgar’s music to be very hypnotic and intense. I highly recommend listening to his music! At SWPS I play in the orchestra and chamber orchestra where I learn a lot about playing as an ensemble and sight reading (definitely!). I think an orchestra is one of the best examples of being part of a team and I love the collaboration between all the different instruments and abilities. I also enjoy participating in such a wide repotoire. Outside of SWPS I perform in competitions and festivals (mostly solo but I also play duets with my sister and most recently in a trio). As a music scholar, I really benefit from playing in concerts fairly regularly which motivates me to play to a higher standard as well as getting used to sharing music infront of an audience.

My name is Katherine and  I am a music scholar here  at SWPS . I play the violin and enjoy singing .  Some of my favourite pieces of music to play is Intrada by Moffat , Zingeresca by Ellerton because of the cheeky and bold way that the violin  entwines  amazingly with the pianos melody’s . At SWPS I enjoy participating in the Symphony Orchestra , chamber orchestra and the MELBA choir , because they are really fun and exciting .The concerts  are so fun  and its a great opportunity to meet new friends - they're great !!! Outside of SWPS , I participate in an ensemble group on Saturdays , SYV a singing group which  I thoroughly enjoy, and when I'm old enough , to join my dad in the Guilford symphony orchestra .  I love music , because  you get to meet new people , try new things, being in a team ,  and challenge yourself and also the thrill of  getting to perform in concerts . I love being a music scholar at SWPS .  

My name is Rachel and I play the violin (grade 6) and the piano (grade 4). At SWPS I enjoy participating in the school orchestra and Chamber orchestra. As a new joiner at SWPS  this has been a brilliant way to meet new people who I can look up to and who share the same interests as me. My favourite era of music is the bedrock period. I particularly like JS Bach’s pieces which I love to play on the violin and the piano. I find he has such beautiful melodies, delicately interwoven with each other which he progresses through different keys. I find each time I play them I discover something new. Outside of school I play in festivals and concerts as a solo, a duet and most recently a trio. I really enjoy being able to share my music with others. As a music scholar at SWPS, I benefit from being asked to perform. I find that the more opportunities I get to play in front of an audience, the more I enjoy it and the less nervous I get. I love the feeling when I see other people enjoy the music which I love playing.