MUSIC

Music at Lunchtime

With smaller audiences than the ‘big ticket’ concerts, these recitals often show the greatest musical diversity and quality of King’s Week. Pupils from all year groups share their music in these welcoming performances.

Thursday 5th Friday 6th & Monday 7th 1:30 – 2:15 pm Old Synagogue

Choirs in the Quire

The school’s foremost choral ensembles, the Chapel, Crypt and Chamber Choirs, as well as the Becket Singers, come together in the beautiful setting of the Quire. We look back on the choirs’ contribution to Cathedral worship over the year with a selection of choral anthems sung in services.

Tuesday 5th July 3:15 – 4:00 pm Cathedral Quire

Thursday Night is Music Night

Featuring a wonderful variety of performances by musicians across the school, including The Concert Band, Sinfonia, Acoustix and Jazz Combo, this concert presents a delightful blend of jazz, pop and light classical music, making it a favourite for easy listeners and family audiences.

Thursday 30th June 6:00 – 7:00 pm Shirley Hall

Jazz on a Summer Sunset

The Modern Jazz Group, under the direction of current pupil Head of Jazz, Elliot Hampton, performs a variety of tunes in an entertaining evening of music. From showtune standards to exciting modern-day compositions, featuring top-class instrumentalists and awe-inspiring vocalists, this opening night will be an evening to remember! This will also include the auction for the King’s Week Charity.

Thursday 30th June 7:30 – 10:15 pm The Green Court Marquee

Cream Tea

Our classic Cream Tea is always a King’s Week favourite and, this year, guests will be entertained by a selection of music in a light classical style, hand-picked from the year’s Fridays@5:15 recitals.

Saturday 2nd July 5:30 - 6:30 pm The Green Court Marquee

Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac started as a blues band, fronted by Peter Green, in London in 1968. Albatross was their first number one single and they subsequently wrote and recorded hits such as Oh Well and Man of the World. Their 1977 album Rumours has sold over 45 million copies and was the third most sold vinyl in 2021. This year’s King’s Week Band will faithfully reproduce some of the most popular songs (including Go Your Own Way and Dreams), whilst including Peter Green’s important early legacy.

Sunday 3rd July 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Monday 4th July 3:00 - 4:30 pm

Tuesday 5th July 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Wednesday 6th July 3:30 - 6:00 pm

Serenade

The Serenade Choir, including members of the Crypt Choir and additional 6a singers, will perform an eclectic mix of evening music in various styles, joined by soloists, close harmony groups and instrumental ensembles.

The evening will feature, in particular, The Serenade To Music by Ralph Vaughan Williams as we mark his 150th anniversary year. Guests are requested not to bring food or drink into the Cloisters, but they are welcome to picnic on the The Green Court. In the event of inclement weather, the Serenade will take place in the Cathedral Nave.

Friday 1st July 8:30-10:00 pm The Great Cloister

Virtuosi

Haydn and Mozart open this programme by The King’s School Chamber Orchestra. From their sparkling opera overtures to their virtuosic concerti and symphonies, we will celebrate the extraordinary output of these two composers at the start of the concert. Northern lights then fill the rest of the evening, with the Chamber Orchestra showcasing gems from Scandinavia and beyond. Light has inspired composers for generations and, on one of the longest days of the year, we relish the music that has embraced the sun and the sky. Sibelius and Grieg share the stage with Max Richter and some Danish folk tunes, in a dazzling programme which is not to be missed!

Sunday 3rd July 7:30 – 10:00 pm Shirley Hall

Jazz Concert

The King’s School Big Band, under the direction of Michael Coates and assisted by King’s Head of Jazz, Elliot Hampton, present an evening of big band favourites. From swing standards to funky classics, and features from star instrumentalists, vocalists and close harmony groups, there is something for everyone.

Monday 4th July 7:30 – 10:15 pm Shirley Hall

The Voice

These singers have prepared their own performances and succeeded in the audition stage to perform for you in the Green Court Marquee. Relax and enjoy the programme, produced with assistance from 6as Anoushka Durham and Florrie Stringer.

Friday 1st July 2:00 – 3:15 pm The Green Court Marquee

The Sound

Listen to a whole spectrum of music from some of our best pupil-led bands and groups in the wonderful setting of the Green Court Marquee. Produced with assistance from 6as Anoushka Durham and Florrie Stringer.

Monday 4th July 2:30 – 3:30 pm The Green Court Marquee

Acoustic Corner

Have you always wanted to share your musical talent with the world but never been quite brave enough? This could be your chance! Sign up for a slot to perform; any musical style is welcome.

Thursday 30th June 1:45 – 2:45 pm The Green Court Pod

Monday 4th July 5:15 – 6:00 pm The Green Court Pod

Gala Symphony Concert

As King’s Week draws to a close, the Symphony Orchestra takes to the stage in a programme that pays homage to Ralph Vaughan Williams in his 150th anniversary year.

The concert features the rhythmical energy and brilliant orchestral colour of his celebrated overture The Wasps, as well as the playful sharing of a collection of beautiful melodies across the orchestra in his English Folk Song Suite. The event also allows some 6a leavers to play a concerto movement with the orchestra in time-honoured tradition. We also perform the premiere of Variations for Orchestra by another recent leaver, Stephen Matthews, who ended his impressive career as Head of Academic Music at King’s during the first lockdown in 2020.

Wednesday 6th July 7:30 – 10:00 pm Shirley Hall