College Life: Music New Music Block Music touches the lives of all students through Chapel and congregational hymn practices. Years 7, 8 and 9 all have Music as part of the curriculum and it is also a popular examination subject at GCSE, AS and A2 level (see Academic Departments). One third of all pupils have individual music lessons. Pupils perform as soloists or as part of small ensembles or as a member of one of our major groups. Chapel Choir Girls' Chamber Choir Junior Concert Band Orchestra Swing Band Jazz Ensemble String Group String Quartet Cello Quartet Flute Group Clarinet Group Saxophone Quartet Brass Group The list of performance opportunities is extensive. HOUSE MUSIC COMPETITION The longstanding tradition of the annual House Music Competition continues with increasingly higher standards of musicianship being displayed. The concept is a simple one: the musical "stars" of each house (under the direction of an elected Music Captain) get a chance to shine for their house and earn points. The fact that all the preparation must be done by the boys and girls themselves, with no staff assistance, ensures leadership opportunities, tests the depth of our music education programme and enflames the spark of creativity in many of our music students. INFORMAL ENSEMBLES CONCERT This is an opportunity for the smaller Chamber Music groups to get out there and show what they can do. Ensemble performances are the epitome of teamwork and all the groups provide an evening of excellent entertainment. Last year the programme featured the Brass Ensemble, Clarinet Group, String Ensemble, Girls’ Chamber Choir, Cello Group, String Quartet, Jazz Ensemble and Swing Band and a guest performance by the winning ensemble from the House Music Competition. REMEMBRANCE SERVICE The most moving event of the annual calendar recently included beautiful performances by the Chapel Choir of Let us now praise Famous Men (by Vaughan Williams) and Libera Me and In Paradisum (by Gabriel Faure). The Vaughan Williams and the hymns were accompanied by the Denstone Brass Ensemble as well as by the Organ. The scene is traditionally set at the beginning by a performance of Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man when the brass and organ are supplemented by Timpani, Cymbals, Bass and Snare Drums. JUNIOR SCHOOL CONCERT This is always a display of an abundance of talent by our junior performers. Not only is the standard very high but also the variety of instruments being played is remarkable. Last year there were 4 flautists, 7 singers, 6 clarinettists, 2 string players, 3 saxophone players, 2 percussionists, 1 pianist, 1 trumpeter (and a partridge in a pear tree!). CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT The Denstone College Chapel Choir and Girls' Chamber Choir are joined by the choir of Smallwood Manor Prep School for this annual joyful celebration of the birth of Christ. Our beautiful chapel is packed to the hilt and resplendent in candlelight. An intriguing mixture of traditional and new carols are performed by all the singers and accompanied by Organ and the Denstone Brass Ensemble.  ANNUAL MUSICAL Most years include a highly entertaining cross-curricular undertaking between the Music and Drama departments. Recent offerings have included West Side Story, Our Day Out and Grease.   ADVANCED MUSICIANS' RECITAL The Music School’s “Super League!” is how this concert is best described! It is always a spectacular display of quality talent at Denstone College. Performers include all A-level specialist musicians. PIANISTS CONCERT This is an event to celebrate accomplishments on what is conceivably the ‘loneliest’ of all musical instruments. The acoustics of the schoolroom together with the wonderful tone of the grand piano make this an effective vehicle for showing off some of the more than 60 talented pianists at Denstone College. JAZZ CONCERT This annual event is known as ‘Hip to be Square’. A typical concert would include the Swing Band with it’s wonderful “battleship in full sail” sound playing tunes such as Summertime (Gershwin), and It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that Swing (Ellington); plus the Jazz Ensemble with pieces such as Song for my Father (Horace Silver) and Lullaby of Birdland (George Shearing). EASTER ORATORIO This event is an attempt to do justice to the most important event in the Church’s Calendar! In the past, the contemplative service of worship in Lent used the Requiem Mass music by Gabriel Faure and Mozart. SUMMER SERENADE Traditionally this is the evening when the Denstone musicians are put through their paces to show off just how talented they are and how hard they have been working! The Chapel is always packed with an eager audience. They are treated to an exciting and varied programme that included performances by Orchestra, Clarinet Group, Girls’ Chamber Choir, String Ensemble, Vocal Trio, Swing Band, Jazz Ensemble, Corps of Drums, Brass Ensemble, Concert Band, String Quartet, Flute Group and Cello Group. ROCK BAND FESTIVAL Each year the Denstone College Rock Band Festival, called ‘Rock ‘n Rule’, puts the schoolroom to the test. This is a popular event amongst the students and some of the current "Garage Bands" come out of the woodwork to perform. MUSICAL OUTREACH The Music School always gives a number of performances off campus. Recent examples: The Swing Band performed in Hollington, Uttoxeter, Longton and Denstone Village. The Jazz Ensemble performed at King’s Bromley, Hollington, Weston, Gumbles Jazz Club in Stafford as well as at the Staffordshire Youth Jazz Festival. They also spent 2 days in a professional recording studio making their own album! The Concert Band played an ‘away match’ at Brooklands Prep School in Stafford. VISITING MUSICIANS Visiting performers do workshops with Denstone Musicians in the afternoon and then perform in the School Room in the evening. Recent examples include a Drumming Workshop and Concert by Ed Freitas and a workshop and performance by ‘Maskarade’. This group is the Midlands’ premier clarinet quartet, consisting of four of the region’s most respected freelance performers. LEAVERS' SERVICE The end of the year is always heralded by another very moving service, this time to say farewell to our leavers. The Chapel Choir members always put their best feet forward. Recent offerings include the Mass in C Major ‘Coronation’ K317 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The Introit Anthem – All People that on Earth do dwell (Vaughan Williams) included the use of the Brass Ensemble. The Communion Anthem – Rejoice in the Lord Alway (Purcell) included the use of the String Quartet plus Geoffrey Walker on Organ.Another end-of-year performance consists of the Jazz Ensemble "hotting up" the Leavers' Ball.   RECENT SUCCESSES JAZZ SCHOLARSHIP The Jazzwise Summer School is now in its 23rd year and takes place in London each year. The course is run by Jamey Aebersold who is widely recognised as the world’s most inspiring and influential jazz educator. He has presented his one week summer camps all over the world for over 35 years and each tutor is a first-class jazz musician with extensive performance and teaching experience. The course is expensive and the 4 Scholarships (valued at £500 each) are hotly contested. Tom Dennis was up against thousands of contenders when he submitted his recording made with the Denstone College Jazz Ensemble at the end of March 2007. It came as no surprise to anyone who has heard him play, that Tom was awarded one of these sought-after scholarships. It is undoubted proof of his extraordinary talent and recognition of his enormous potential as a young musician. The Denstone College Jazz Ensemble received the royal seal of approval recently. They were invited to play at a fund-raising dinner for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, held at Kensington Palace on 1st November 2007, where the guests included HRH Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, and HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. The members are: Katherine Bradshaw-Smith (vocals), Michael Butcher (drums), Tom Dennis (trumpet), Tim Langston (bass), Henry Lloyd (piano), Ruth Taylor (tenor sax), Grace Walker (alto sax), Mike Skipper (Director of Music, trombone).