MUSIC AT

Tuition AvailableSevenoaks organises hundreds of instrumental and voice lessons per week both in and out of school hours. We also offer a course following the Alexander Technique.

Tuition includes:

Brass & Woodwind Strings

VoicePercussion

Electric Guitar Classical & Jazz Piano

Further information available at www.sevenoaksschool.org/music

Facilities

World Class Performing Arts Centre, The Space

The Pamoja Hall

Sevenoaks School has a long tradition of music making, going back to the sixteenth century, long before Emma Johnson won the BBC Young Musician of the Year in 1984. The Music department is housed in The Space, our award-winning performing arts centre, and is in use from 8am until 9pm every day. A consistent prizewinner in the field of chamber music, the department has excelled in all areas of classical music. Our jazz programme is exceptional and recent improvements to the department’s facilities and personnel have made the school’s music profile one of the best in the United Kingdom.

This magnificent resource has two outstanding performance spaces, the Pamoja Hall, a superb raked auditorium seating 400, and the Recital Room, as well as other classrooms and resource teaching rooms. There is a suite of 16 practice rooms, a high specification drum and recording studio and the Melamed Room, which contains a suite of 14 PCs. A suite of iMacs with composition software including Logic will be available from 2017. The Space holds Bösendorfer and Steinway grand pianos as well as an organ and a harpsichord.

Recording Studio

Performance Space and Lighting Studio

The Recital Room

Concerts and Tours

Sevenoaks School enjoys presenting upwards of 50 concerts a year and also organising mainly choral tours around Europe for keen musicians.

Annually the school puts on a concert in memory of former governor and supporter of the Music department, Alan Adler. Recent highlights have been performances of Dvořák Piano Trio No 2, Polovtsian Dances by Borodin, Carissimi’s Plorate filii Israel, Haydn’s Te Deum in C major and extracts from The Creation.

There are also jazz concerts as well as concerts which allow students to showcase their own compositions, many of which are of a more popular nature. There is also a series of chamber music concerts where the students perform chamber music they have been studying in depth. Tours are popular and a highlight. Mainly choral in nature, the students have performed at the Berlin Philharmonie, the Teatro Accademico in Bagni di Lucca and at a series of locations in Malta, with a live broadcast to 10,000 listeners on Radio Malta.

Alan Adler Concert

Annual Calendar 2016/17SEPTEMBER FEBRUARYFriday 2 The Story of American Piano Music Thursday 2 tbc Lunchtime Concert, Shirley Methodist

ChurchTuesday 6 Sennocke Consort Evensong, Jesus

College, CambridgeFriday 3 Year 10 SSC Concert

Wednesday 7 Boarders’ Concert Thursday 9 Pro Crada Chamber Music 1st Round

Friday 23 Middle School Music Competition Performance

Wednesday 22 Evensong Performance

Tuesday 27 Feldenkrais & Piano Technique Workshop

Thursday 23 Year 10 Open Concert

Thursday 29 Singers’ Platform Concert Friday 24 Informal Concert (Lambardes)

Friday 30 Informal Concert MARCHOCTOBER Thursday 2 tbc Pro Corda Chamber Music Semi-Final

Tuesday 4 Senior Musicians ‘ Platform Friday 3 Chamber Musicians Platform II

Friday 7 Jazz Club Cabaret Concert Monday 6 Informal Concert (PG)

Tuesday 11 Middle School Platform Concert Tuesday 7 Piano Showcase

Monday 31 Evensong Performance Wednesday 8 Chamber music public masterclass

NOVEMBER Sevenoaks Swings

Wednesday 9 Lunchtime Concert, St Luke’s Church, Sevenoaks

Thursday 9 Chamber Musicians Platform III

Wednesday 9 Year 9 Open Concert Thursday 14 tbc Symphony Orchestra Concert

Monday 14 Informal Concert Thursday 16 Open Musicians’ Platform

Wednesday 16 Lower School Platform Concert Sunday 19 tbc Pro Corda Chamber Music Finals

Thursday 24 Lower School Platform Concert Monday 20 Music at Sevenoaks School

Monday 28 Songwriters’ Concert APRILTuesday 29 Informal Concert Friday 21 Jazz Club Concert

Wednesday 30 Big Gig Tuesday 25 Alan Adler Concert

DECEMBER MAYFriday 2 Music at Sevenoaks Wednesday 3 Open Musicians’ Platform

Monday 5 Open Musicians’ Platform Thursday 4 Informal Concert (PG)

Tuesday 6 Pipemakers Carol Service, London JUNEInformal Concert (Lambardes) Monday 5 Evensong Performance

Friday 9 Crash into Christmas Thursday 8 Singer/ Songwriter Concert

Monday 12 Service of Readings and Carols for Christmas

Friday 9 Year 10 SSC Concert

JANUARY Monday 12 Lower School Musicians’ Concert

Friday 6 Evensong Performance Wednesday 14 Informal Concert (S)

Monday 23 String Platform Concert Friday 23 Chamber Concert

Tuesday 24 Yoga for musicians Monday 26 Evensong Performance

Woodwind Platform Concert Tuesday 27 Parents’ Choir Summer Soiree

Wednesday 25 Brass Platform Concert Wednesday 28 Open Musicians’ Platform

Thursday 26 Piano Platform Concert JULYMusic Award Holders’ Recital 1-8 Sennocke Consort Trip to Italy

Tuesday 31 Informal Concert (Sennocke)

Notable Present Students

Sophie WestbrookeSophie was a BBC Young Musician of the Year concerto finalist in 2014. She was the only recorder player to reach the Woodwind final, in which she performed Meditation (Hirose), Lamento di Tristano (anon), La rotta della Manfredina (anon), Sonata Prima (Castello) and Choro by David Gordon. Sophie also performed on BBC Radio 3 and was interviewed for In Tune.

Lou WarnettLou Warnett currently studies with Christopher Elton, Professor Emeritus of Piano and former Head of Keyboard at Royal Academy of Music, having started piano at the age of four. He reached grade 8 piano aged ten, featured as concerto soloist aged 12, and performed a solo recital to a sell-out audience at the 2014 Beaminster Music Festival. Awards include the Concerto Prize at the Kent International Piano Course, Manchester International Piano Concerto Competition prizewinner, Sevenoaks Young Musician of the Year 2013, European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA) competition winner 2013 and Lagny-sur-Marne International Piano Competition 2014 prizewinner.

Sehee LimSehee Lim is an accomplished violist who has been selected to be a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for three years and has been given the seat of assistant principal viola this year. With the NYO Sehee performs in the UK’s most prestigious concert halls, such as the Royal Festival Hall, Barbican Hall, and the Royal Albert Hall. Further outstanding performances include playing in front of HM the Queen and in the BBC Proms. Sehee also takes singing lessons and has performed as a soloist for Sevenoaks School. She is working towards choral and instrumental awards and hopes to study Music at university.

Billy HillBilly Hill is a folk violinist and guitarist and has been performing at music festivals and clubs since he was ten. He has supported leading artists including Eliza Carthy, Tim Eriksen, Dave Swarbrick and Bruce Molsky and has been featured several times on BBC Radio 6 Music. In 2015 he played at Glasgow Centre for Contemporary Arts and in 2016 he performed at Buckingham Palace with other emerging young musicians. Billy’s recording with blues guitarist Ramon Goose was chosen by musician and broadcaster Tom Robinson as one of his favourite tracks for 2014. He has since released a CD with Ramon Goose, Pete Cooper and Akos Hasznos, supported by Arts Council England. Billy also plays guitar in a jazz quintet and big band.

Rachelle Lam Rachelle Lam started playing the piano at the age of five, and was a student at the Junior department of the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts from 2005-12. She has gained the ATCL Diploma with distinction and the LTCL Diploma. Rachelle was the top finalist at the Pro Corda Chamber Music Festival 2014. Previously, she was awarded First Prize with Honours at consecutive Hong Kong Music Festival competitions as well as claiming the top prize in the 14th and 15th Asia Open Piano Competition.

Notable Former Students

Joe Stilgoe: Piano Joe is one of the UK’s leading singer/songwriters. He is in constant demand with his band and as a solo act, having appeared at Ronnie Scott’s, the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Barbican, London Jazz Festival, Royal Albert Hall, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Festival and many other venues. He has appeared as featured soloist with orchestras including the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. He starred in the West End Show High Society in 2015.

Emma Johnson: Clarinet In 1984, while Emma Johnson was still at school, she won the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition and was a medal winner in the Eurovision Young Musician. Later she was a winner of the Young Concert Artist Auditions in New York. Described as ‘Britain’s favourite clarinettist’ by the Times, Emma has recorded numerous CDs and, following a period as Professor of Clarinet at the Royal College of Music, enjoys working with students in masterclasses.

James McVinnie: Organ James was Assistant Organist of Westminster Abbey between 2008 and 2011, where he played for regular services, directed the Abbey’s world-famous choir and played at many state occasions including the 2011 royal wedding. He now works as a solo organist and pianist and collaborates with some of the world’s leading contemporary composers and performers. He appears regularly at the Royal Festival Hall, Union Chapel and Barbican as well as festivals across the UK, Europe and USA.

Henry Waddington: Bass BaritoneHenry is a regular performer at Glyndebourne and has performed as a solo opera singer all over Europe. He studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and has sung with Glyndebourne Touring Opera, Royal Opera, Opera North, Welsh National Opera, Garsington Opera, English National Opera, BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Chelsea Opera Group, and at the BBC Proms, La Monnaie in Brussels, the Liceu in Barcelona and Teatro Real in Madrid.

Alec Frank-Gemmill: French HornAlec is Principal Horn of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and has appeared as soloist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC Philharmonic, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Düsseldorfer Symphoniker and Sinfonietta Köln. He also regularly performs concertos. A proponent of the historical natural horn as well as of the modern instrument, his repertoire stretches from the baroque era to the latest contemporary compositions. Alec is a member of the BBC New Generation Artists scheme.

Meet the team

Christopher Dyer: Director of Music Chris has been Director of Music at Sevenoaks School since 2002, during which time he has overseen the expansion of the Music department into its current home, The Space. Chris was simultaneously a choral and instrumental award holder at Cambridge University, where he developed an interest in chamber music. A personal recipient of the Founder’s Trophy in Pro Corda’s annual Chamber Music Festival for Schools in both 2007 and 2013, Chris delights in finding hidden gems for unusual combinations of instruments written by obscure composers. He is particularly committed to the Sevenoaks School concert series, which has doubled the opportunity for solo and ensemble performance since 2002.

Christopher Potts: Assistant Director of MusicChristopher has a BA in Music from Durham University and an MPerf in Orchestral Training from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Before coming to Sevenoaks he was Head of Performance and Outreach and Head of Wind, Brass and Percussion at Ampleforth College, where he was also an Assistant Housemaster. He is a clarinettist and pianist.

Michael Heighway: Music TeacherMichael graduated with a First Class degree in Music from Oxford. He was Organ Scholar at Christ Church Cathedral, where his duties involved accompanying the world-famous choir of men and boys for daily services, as well as for international tours and broadcasts. After leaving Oxford he worked for an international executive search firm, before studying for a PGCE at the UCL Institute of Education. Michael has performed widely as a pianist, and particularly enjoys chamber music. At Sevenoaks, he has oversight over the Upper School academic programme, including Oxbridge preparation, and he runs the Choral Society, Middle School String Orchestra, and chamber groups.

Julia Kiggell: Music TeacherJulia is an Honours graduate from Durham University, holds a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Trinity-Guildhall and is an Associate of the Royal College of Music (trombone performance). She has taught in the Music department since 1995 and has a wealth of teaching experience from Year 7 to Sixth Form. Since taking on the role of lower brass specialist, she has significantly increased the number of pupils taking up trombone, tuba and euphonium. Julia conducts Wind Band and assists with the coaching of brass chamber music and Senior Big Band. She is also Officer in Charge of the Army Section of the school CCF.

Suzy Parkin: Music AdministratorSuzy joined the Music department in September 2016 and provides administration support to 45 peripatetic staff, as well as the department. With about half of the school learning an instrument and 800 instrumental lessons taking place each week, Suzy coordinates a very busy department and ensures the smooth running of proceedings.

Jackie Hendry: Music TeacherAfter pursuing a career as a bassoon performer in Scotland, Jackie moved to Sevenoaks and has taught at the school as a peripatetic bassoon teacher since 1986, joining the academic teaching team in 2002. She was responsible for bringing the Javanese Gamelan to the school on a Government grant in 2000 and runs a weekly VSU workshop programme in this involving local primary schools. She has a particular interest in youth music and is an active supporter of local music making.

Tau Wey: Head of KeyboardTau read music at Cambridge, and has been Head of Keyboard at Sevenoaks since 2009. During this time, he has exposed the students to a wide range of artistic experiences, ranging from historically informed performance of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, to John Cage’s silent piece 4’33’’. Tau has also developed the Centre for Holistic Studies, which promotes the use of Dalcroze Eurhythmics and Alexander Technique to enhance music teaching. An active pianist too, he recently performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 5.

Nick Beston: Head of Jazz & Contemporary MusicNick graduated from London University in 1994 having specialised in jazz, saxophone and music technology. In 1995 he began teaching saxophone at Sevenoaks School with six students a week. This has grown into a flourishing jazz department with over 50 students regularly participating in big bands, jazz bands, small ensembles and improvisation workshops. Nick also teaches music technology and is responsible for the recording studio, which has an enthusiastic team of student sound engineers and records many music, and occasionally drama, performances throughout the year.

Kathryn Ashwell: Assistant Head of Instrumental & Vocal StudiesKathryn has led an active career as a chamber musician, accompanist and piano teacher, at institutions including The University of Manchester, Junior Royal Northern College of Music and Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She joined the department in 2011 and, alongside her piano teaching, loves being involved in the chamber music programme, and working with the students towards their performances in the huge variety of concerts on offer. She can also occasionally be seen moonlighting as a violinist in the big orchestral concerts!

Simon Palmer: Music TeacherSimon has a BA in Sociology from Durham University, a First in Music Composition and Technology from the University of Hertfordshire and a PGCE. He is a classically trained pianist and has taught classical, jazz and blues piano. Before embarking on his Music Composition and Technology degree, Simon was the main songwriter, guitarist and pianist for a published alternative/indie band. Simon has a wealth of studio experience and is helping to grow the technological side of the music department as well as increasing the provision of contemporary music opportunities for students.

Kimberley Chan: Graduate Teaching AssistantKimberley has a Masters in Advanced Musical Studies (specialising in performance and ethnomusicology) from Royal Holloway, University of London. In the future, she hopes to specialise further in music psychology. While she has been classically trained on both piano and voice through a music scholarship at The Lady Eleanor Holles School, she also has a particular interest in musical theatre and popular music.

William Fairbairn: Graduate Music AssistantWilliam Fairbairn read Music and was the Organ Scholar at St Catharine’s College Cambridge. Whilst there, he played under Edward Wickham for the College Chapel Choir, and the Girls’ Choir, accompanying them in their weekly round of services. He also accompanied them for radio broadcasts, recordings and tours across Europe and the Far East. Before that, he held a Music Scholarship at the King’s School Canterbury. In 2010 he won a recital award at the Oundle for Organists Summer School. He also holds the Organ Scholarship at All Saint’s Church, Fulham.

Meet the team

Sevenoaks has a strong tradition of chamber music. We are regular finalists in the Pro Corda chamber music competition and in recent years have won the Schools’ Trophy and the Founder’s Trophy. Opportunities for playing in small groups is a vital part of our provision for keen musicians, and our current ensembles range from string quartets and piano trios to flute choirs.

Get Involved

A range of choirs Chamber groups

Junior and senior orchestras Big bands

Gospel ChoirBrass ensemble

A wide and varied provision of ensemble activities is available to students at Sevenoaks, ranging from classical choirs, orchestras and chamber groups to jazz bands, a singer-songwriter club and composers’ group.

Sophie Westbrooke, BBC Young Musician Finals Image © BBC

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