MUSIC

WAKEFIELD WHERE GIRLS ARE CREATIVE

Music medley

A Year in Music at WGHS

Friday 13th September held no fears for the Music Department who are now accustomed to the early start to the school year. Spirited singing (not least from Cantabile) and captivating solo performances from Liv Smith and Wuyou Xia graced our Founders’ Day service, and there was more eclectic vocal music from Alex Lee and Ailish McWilliam in that afternoon’s Celebration Assembly.

Our Cabaret Evening at the beginning of October contained a host of gilt-edged performances with string quartet backing adding a sophisticated dimension to our hard working house-band. A selection of the terrific performances appeared in assemblies for weeks afterwards to the delight of the rest of the school.

We were privileged in November to host the four virtuoso members of the A4 Brass ensemble who delivered concerts, workshops and masterclasses for us in St John’s Church - their technical control and seemingly effortless musicianship were an inspiration to all our young musicians. Later that same week, Cantabile under the directorship of Mrs Littledyke gave a spell-binding rendition of Debussy’s Sirenes in Leeds accompanied by the West Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra. December found us back in the Cathedral for a spirited festival of carol singing- it is so impressive when the whole school raises its voice together in song! Earlier that day we were treated to a wonderful lunchtime ‘Tuesday at one’ concert given by our A Level musicians (and friends) who entertained a packed cathedral with a range of solo and chamber music repertoire.

Christmas is never Christmas without the two buzzy school concerts - the musical equivalent of a volcanic eruption - and our boys and girls were on top form in their musical commitment, ensemble performing and festive spirit. The Sixth Form choir (directed by a member of the Sixth Form) has become a regular feature of our concerts, but this year there was a ‘new kid on the block’ in the form of Session Orchestra- the brainchild of Sixth Former Liv Smith who directed and danced her way through the music, already having arranged the parts for the musicians to play.

After our traditional ‘out of town’ performance at the Pennine Community School, we introduced a new event into our musical calendar with an after school ‘rush-hour’ concert at St John's Church. Starting at 4.30 we were amazed and delighted that so many supportive parents and colleagues were able to come to hear our amazing mix of music. The playlist included a concerto for seven trumpets (no less), music for solo violin, vocal repertoire (including barbershop and SATB choir) and a version of Delibes’s famous Flower Duet that will stay in the minds of those who heard it for a long time to come.

Later in March we were joined by former Music Advisor for Wakefield, Geraldine Gaunt, for our Music Soiree event. It was great to hear our older WGHS girls playing and singing with such aplomb, and every audience member I spoke to had their own special favourite. Geraldine selected as her ‘performances of the evening’ Eleanor Bowen (KS4) and Lucy McKinlay (KS5) - both trumpeters!

... and then of course came the pandemic. The future looked bleak as we went into self-isolation, till, in the early days of lockdown, what did we hear booming out of our chrome books? Thanks to the tireless efforts of a certain Sixth Form ensemble director we were all able to enjoy the invigorating strains of ‘Happy’ as performed by (virtual) session orchestra! You can’t keep a good team down!

The unsung heroes of our music department are our team of visiting music teachers and we can’t let this opportunity to thank them pass as they continue to deliver brilliant online lessons to our young musicians. Finally, we would just like to wish all our departing musicians and their families the very best for the future. It is wonderful to imagine the musical ‘ripples’ that go out from the Wakefield Grammar School Foundation each year...

Mr Meredith and Mrs Bentham - WGHS Music Department