SECTION TWO | Performing Arts

PERFORMING ARTS

The Performing Arts form a major part of the artistic life of the College, o ering a wide range of activities and clubs across Music and Drama including the annual school show. Whether your interests lie in acting, singing, or playing an instrument, there is something to suit everyone.

SCHOLA

The Schola is a choral programme unique to St. Aloysius’ College. Pupils from P4-P7 get a chance to join some excellent choirs, and are also o ered a much wider educational experience. Members of the two junior choirs get subsidised instrumental lessons in an orchestral instrument. All choristers get the chance to learn using the Royal School of Church Music Voice for Life Scheme, and over 80 pupils have achieved Bronze or Silver awards.

SCHOLA PUELLARUM P4-P7 GIRLS

This is our junior Schola for girls. Girls from Primary 4 are members, and there is a simple audition to join, to gauge potential. Girls usually join in Primary 4, but older girls in the Junior School are welcome to have a go (even a second go!) We lead Junior School liturgies, and sing some Sunday Masses (about 7 per year) at St. Aloysius’ Church, as well as a programme of concerts and other performances. In the last three years we have been to Edinburgh, Windsor and Yorkshire. We sing all sorts of music, from plainchant to Latin American, and from songs about gocarts to African songs.

This is our junior Schola for boys. It works in exactly the same way as the girls’ Schola, and the opportunities are also exactly the same (although the songs we sing are different). Occasionally the choirs even sing together, as we did when singing backing vocals for Andrea Bocelli at the SSE Hydro a few years ago. Come and join the team!

SCHOLA PUERORUM P4-P7 BOYS

JUNIOR SCHOOL CHOIR P5-P7

The Junior choir is a very successful group made up of P5-7 boys and girls. The Junior choir is an award winning choir that is frequently asked to sing and perform at various prestigious events around the city. Children do not need to audition to join the choir which will focus on learning and developing their vocal skills in a variety of singing styles in a relaxed environment.

TRAINING CHOIR P3-P4

The Training Choir sings a range of musical styles, and has some fun in the process. The Training Choir rehearse during lunchtime and are a competitive choir who also perform at events such as the Christmas Carol Service.

PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE P4-P7

The Junior School Percussion Ensemble is a new addition to the Junior Music Department this year. It is open to children from P4-7 and seeks to provide percussion players the opportunity to play a variety of genres together in a group and progress in their solo playing.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

There are many opportunities available to take part in the Junior School’s instrumental music programme. A broad range of co-curricular groups are o ered for instrumentalists, and we also have a comprehensive instrumental tuition programme covering a wide variety of instruments from traditional orchestral instruments such as violin and clarinet, to traditional music instruments such as clarsach and bagpipes. Therefore, whether you want to rehearse and perform as part of a group, or learn to play an instrument, the instrumental music programme is here to meet your child’s needs.

STRING ORCHESTRA P4-P7

The Junior String Group meets during the week and welcomes all string players. The group provides the opportunity to play music in a variety of different styles in a fun atmosphere.

WIND BAND P4-P7

The Junior Wind Band is open to all woodwind and brass instrumentalists. On Wednesdays at lunchtime, you will have the opportunity to play music in a variety of styles in a relaxed and enjoyable environment.

INDIVIDUAL LESSONS P3-P7

Instrumental tuition forms a large part of the work of the Music department, and is available in most instruments, including: Piano, Voice, Strings, Woodwind, Brass, Percussion, Guitar, Harp/Clarsach and Bagpipes. Theory of Music lessons are also available as part of a small group. These lessons are delivered by a team of visiting tutors. Pupils are encouraged to sit external music exams including those of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and Trinity College.

Lessons are scheduled through the school day and last for 30 minutes. Lesson times are rotated to ensure that pupils do not miss the same class on a regular basis. All pupils have the opportunity to participate in the many ensembles that rehearse weekly in the department. There is an additional charge for individual lessons.

ANNUAL JUNIOR SCHOOL SHOW P5-P7

Each year the pupils in P5-P7 participate in their end of year show. Led by the P7 pupils, we alternate each year between an evening of choral music and drama and a full scale musical production. The shows o er pupils the opportunity to be involved in all aspects of the staging of these performances, from leading roles to supporting cast as well as lighting and sound engineers. Recent performances have included ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘We Will Rock You', ‘The Wizard of Oz’, and 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'.