Rock’n’ Pop

ROCK &

POP

Mrs Briana Corrigan SINGING TEACHER

It’s been a busy term in Rock and Pop! Our cross collaborative project, “You Will Be Found” dragged us some way back to a sense of “normal” as we explored ways to rehearse and remain Covid compliant and, even more challengingly, manage to get our singers on stage to record a live performance along with full (socially distant) band….which we did. We also resurrected Unplugged after missing three terms due to Covid restrictions. It wasn’t possible to offer Unplugged as the live gig it normally is, instead we recorded it and many thanks go to ex-student, Calum Mowat for his excellent skills and his amazing photos and to Kalana de Silva for his brilliant skills in the editing suite! The criteria for Unplugged was that the students would have a performance focus for the term and an experience of performing within a gig setting; stage, lights, full band etc and so get a flavour of that delicious adrenalin rush performance brings. The fear was that after such a lull in live performance it might feel a little shaky, however this proved to be an utterly groundless fear. In fact, the reality was exactly the opposite. Across the board the performances were stronger than ever, stepping up to the challenge with focus and some fabulous results. The singers were, one and all, amazing and the bands simply excellent. From Yr 5 up to Yr 13, they each gave their all in the most wonderful and assured manner proving yet again the incredible and joyous resilience of our BSAK students.

All the favorite tracks were on show, from the epic, spine-tingling, brass flooded drama of Skyfall to the delicate, emotional beauty of Hallelujah; we had Year Six’s pounding rendition of Seven Nation Army, the blistering soul of Aretha’s Natural Woman, the Artic Monkey’s stomping 505,Royals, Billie Eilish’s I Love You and even an original composition, Fishes In The Pond…. All songs from across the spectrum of Rock and Pop and so wonderful to hear alive and kicking in this subdued era we are living through.

We were also treated to two wonderful final BSAK performances, firstly from Will with his storming rendition of the famous guitar solo in Bon Jovi’s Sweet Child of Mine, and secondly from Cora who took Beyonce’s song Spirit and showed Queen Bey just how it should be done. Both Will and Cora have been large presences within the music department and will be sorely missed. Which of course brings me to the sad subject of our leavers. Trinity, have an amazing time in Uni, Amelie, your stunning version of Someone Like You will stay with me! Izzy, a ray of sunshine gone, Sylvie, never stop singing! Saskia, we’d only just begun!, Ella, Little Mix fan of the Year and Lily Mac, your silky tones will be missed! And lastly, a sad goodbye to my singing pal Phil Townley (aka W.D.) And just remember each one of you, “If I’m going to sing like someone else then I don’t need to sing at all” (Billie Holiday.) Wishing you all the luck in the world.

BSAK UNPLUGGED