The Years 7-9 Soloists’ Concert featured 35 different solos on a whole range of instruments, and it was incredibly encouraging to see such enthusiasm and talent at the younger end of the school. Many of these students were performing a solo for the first time in the Senior School, and we look forward eagerly to hearing them again as the years go on.

A huge highlight was the Rock School gig at the Portland Arms, Cambridge’s premier live music venue. Rock School is a thriving activity in which very large numbers of students participate, forming bands and learning both classic rock and pop songs, and increasingly writing their own material. After a pandemic-enforced absence of two years, it was good to be finally back at the Portland Arms; ten bands performed a total of 17 songs, and students from throughout the Senior School and Sixth Form performed with incredible energy.

One of the defining features of our music department is the sheer variety of styles that our students perform in, and just a few days after the Portland Arms concert a group of Year 9 and 10 students performed a lunchtime concert at Great St Mary’s, consisting of chamber music and solos, and then a combined performance of Telemann’s rarely played but fabulous Water Music. Our termly Great St Mary’s concerts allow us to perform an extended programme, and are attended by a large and appreciative audience.