Music has continued to build and thrive at Sir William Perkin’s School over this term. Early in September, we saw our house captains preparing for our second ever House Music Competition, with the chosen theme this year being ‘Music from the Movies’. Lonsdale pulled their performance out of the bag to win the SWPS House Music 2024-2025 competition, with a choreographed, enacted version of a song from the Lion King, with a featured performance from Simba too!
Year 7 performed exceptionally well in their Year 7 Extravaganza, which also featured performances from our Chamber Orchestra and Melba Choir. During the evening, Year 7 and their families were treated to a rendition of Moana’s ‘How Far I’ll Go’ from our band of peripatetic teachers, concluding with joint performance by everyone, of ‘I Get By With a Little Help from my Friends’. Year 7, put simply, were fantastic throughout.
Students in Years 9-13 had their first trip of the year to see the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Cadogan Hall perform Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony, and our Music Scholars’ had their first solo performance of the year shortly afterwards too. The standard of performance by the scholars continues to amaze me and the department is truly humbled and privileged to work with such musicians.
Following the half term break, the SWPS School Community gathered for our Remembrance Service which featured ‘Nimrod’ and John Madden’s setting of ‘We Will Remember Them’ for our senior choir, Vox. This was a poignant service, which gave opportunity for students to reflect and remember those from all cultures and countries, who’s lives have been affected by conflict.
The last couple of weeks have meant our musicians have stepped up into Christmas with festive enthusiasm! Musicians from various parts of the school have been busking at the FoSWPS Christmas Fair, whilst some of our Key Stage 5 students went to perform to patients at St Peter’s hospital, bringing an atmosphere of festive cheer. We were warmly welcomed back to St Peter’s Church for our formal ‘Nine Lessons and Carols’ service, where staff, students, governors and families alike, were able to come together to celebrate the Christmas time. The SWPS Community Choir were back with gusto to sing in SATB fashion alongside our senior choir, bringing a different and enlightening experience for our singers.
The Christmas Concert, and the many Christmas accessories as worn by students throughout the evening, saw performances from our smaller ensembles, such as Jazz Band and Flute Group, alongside our Symphony Orchestra and Senior Choir, to create a wonderful evening of fun, frolics and festivities, leaving several members of the audience caught singing some of the Christmas Classics upon departure from the school at the end of the evening.
It has been a truly remarkable term of music making, and every single student who has participated should feel proud of their achievements. I can’t wait to see how this year progresses with such an exciting cohort of musicians. I wish each and every one of them a well-deserved rest and the merriest of holidays, and look forward to working with them again in the Spring Term.
Sophie Robertshaw – Director of Music
