Music and the Performing Arts are at the heart of life in our school. In Key Stage 3 all pupils study Music, Drama and Dance during Key stage 3 and we have a large take up of courses at GCSE and A level. There are currently 13 A level music students across year 12/13 and 91 GCSE Music students across Year 9, 10 and 11. Our students are highly successful in these courses and, for many years, we have seen students go on to study Music at well-regarded universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, York and Manchester. Alongside this, around 20% of our student body take individual music tuition with lessons in instruments and voice and contribute to our many concerts and performances across each academic year.

You can find out more about our instrument and vocal music lessons here.

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We are committed to ensuring that every student who wishes to can access further music lessons, and so there is a lot of financial support to do so. Students who study GCSE or A level music receive fully funded tuition on one instrument or voice and students in receipt of Pupil Premium likewise receive fully funded lessons. Thanks to the English Martyrs’ Alumni and Friends, we are also able to offer small numbers of group instrumental lessons to Year 7 students each year, a project we have found highly successful in aiding the recruitment and retention of future GCSE and A level Music students.

We are also most grateful to various external organisations for their regular financial and practical support for all that we do here, including:

Leicester MusicFest

Foresters Brass Band

YOST (The Young Organ Scholar’s Trust)

The Royal College of Organists

The Ernest and Dorothy Chester Fund

Hymns Ancient and Modern

Mattioli Woods Plc

Co-Curricular Activities

We have a rich and varied range of co-curricular activities in Music, Dance and Drama. These groups meet each week and contribute to an extensive concert programme. Students also use their gifts to lead school assemblies and liturgies, particularly through our Organ Scholars programme, which supports the music of our weekly Voluntary Mass services.

 

Monday:

Registration: Wind Band – a beginner ensemble for students studying wind instruments from all year groups led by Mr Leonard

Afterschool: Schola Cantorum – An auditioned liturgical choir of around 40 singers from all year groups led by Mr and Mrs Gull

Tuesday:

Registration: Junior Choir – a choir of around 100 students from Year 8/9 led by Mrs Handley

Lunchtime: Flute Ensemble – a small chamber ensemble of flautists in all year groups led by Ms Conquest

Afterschool: Orchestra – an ensemble of around 40 players from all year groups, led by Mr Leonard

Wednesday:

Registration: Senior Choir – a choir of around 100 students from Years 10-13, led by Mrs Handley

Registration: Junior Brass – a beginner ensemble for brass players from all year groups led by Mrs Gamble

Afterschool: Senior Brass – an advanced ensemble of around 20 players from all year groups led by Mr Tam

Afterschool: Drama Club/School Show rehearsals led by Ms Sole and Mrs Handley

Thursday:

Registration: Schola Cantorum – An auditioned liturgical choir of around 40 singers from all year groups led by Mr and Mrs Gull. This ensemble rehearses twice every week

Registration: Year 7 Choir – a choir of around 60 students from year 7 led by Mrs Handley

Afterschool: Jazz Band – an advanced ensemble of around 20 players from all year groups led by Mrs Gamble

Friday:

Registration: String Ensemble – an intermediate ensemble of string players from all year groups led by Mrs Wain

Afterschool: Steel Pans – a group ensemble lesson of students from all year groups led by Ms Munroe

Afterschool: Guitar Ensemble – a small ensemble of guitarists from all year groups led by Mr Grimm.

ANNUAL PERFORMANCE CALENDAR

Advent Term

Macmillan Coffee Concert

Open Evenings for Year 6 and Sixth Form

Year 7 Concert involving every member of Year 7

Visiting performers and workshops including NYJO and Gabrieli ROAR

Shakespeare for Schools, Curve Theatre

St Cecilia Concert

Menphys Concert, De Montfort Hall

Live Lounge Christmas Recital

School Carol Service for parents and friends

School Carol Services for the whole school

Lent Term

Evensong at Leicester Cathedral for Christian Unity week

St Thomas Aquinas Feast Day Mass

Visit to Philharmonia Orchestra concerts, De Montfort Hall

Primary School Tour Performances

Leicester Music Fest

Year 7/8 Instrumental and Vocal Solo Recitals

Schola Cantorum Evensong at Cambridge University

Organ and Piano Masterclass

St Patrick’s Day Mass at St Patrick’s Parish Church

Music Soiree Recital

Ash Wednesday and Lent liturgies

Pentecost Term

Spring Concert

National Youth Championships (Brass)

Choir of the Year

Year 11 and 13 Leavers Masses

Performing arts trips and visits

School Show

Awards Evening

Dance Show

St Theresa’s Parish Concert

End of Year Mass

Specific dates are published in the annual school calendar, events and dates vary from year to year.

Specific dates are published in the annual school calendar,  events and dates vary from year to year.

Mathilda Jr Promo

Wider Community

The school makes a significant contribution to the wider community, our beautiful facilities, especially St Cecilia Auditorium, are enjoyed each year by the participants of

  • Leicester Music Fest – each February
  • Trinity College of Music – examination centre
  • Leicester International Music Festival (LIMF)
  • The Bardi Orchestra

Teachers

Mr L Leonard, Director of Music

Ms K Sole, Director of Drama

Mrs K Pemberton, Director of Dance

Mrs R Handley, Teacher of Music

Mrs M Lorek, Music Support Assistant

Mrs Banks – Woodwind

Ms Conquest – Flute

Mr Cowen – Piano and Organ

Mrs Curtis – Oboe

Mr Foster – Violin and Guitar

Mrs Gamble – Upper Brass and Junior Brass/Jazz Band

Mr Goodwin – Drums

Mr Grimm – Guitar/Guitar Ensemble

Mr Gull – Piano, Voice and Organ/Schola Cantorum

Mrs Gull – Organ/Schola Cantorum

Ms Marlow – Piano

Ms McLay – Cello and Piano

Ms Munroe – Steel Pans

Mr Richardson – Piano

Ms Silverwood – Strings & Voice

Ms Summerfield – Voice

Mr Tam – Lower Brass/Senior Brass Ensemble

Mrs Taylor – Woodwind

Mrs Wain – Strings

Mr White – Piano