Sunday Times Independent Secondary School of the Year 2010-11
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Individual achievement is high and each year over 200 girls enter for ABRSM Music exams, many achieving Merit or Distinction at Grade 8. Several girls have also gained Performance Diplomas, won Choral Scholarships to Oxbridge, and been selected to play in the National Youth and Children's Orchestras.
For younger girls we have a Second Orchestra which prepares them for the challenges of the First, a Concert Band which aims to be inclusive, Sub-Choir for those interested in singing and hoping to join the Chapel Choir, a Junior Band for all musicians in UIII, and an UIII Choir.
Music at Wycombe Abbey enters into all aspects of School life and it is of this which we are most proud. Though membership of the most accomplished ensembles is competitive, and we encourage each girl to realise her full potential, we believe that the experience of music-making, both individual and collaborative, should be available to all pupils, whatever their level of skill. Thus, many of our thirty-five full-time and visiting Music staff, who deliver lessons to approximately three-quarters of the School population, also provide the opportunity for their pupils to play in a group wherever possible. As such, in addition to the ensembles detailed above, the following also happen on a weekly basis: several String Quartets, Piano Trios, Piano Quartets, Guitar Band, Wind Quintet, Baroque Ensemble, Flute Group, Saxophone Quartet, Clarinet Duos and Rock Bands. All girls in the School take part in the annual House Music Competition, House Chapel Services and Saturday morning hymn practice.
Weekly informal lunchtime concerts for musicians of all abilities take place usually in Fisher Library, a flexible 80-seat venue in the main Abbey building which houses an excellent Steinway grand piano. The concerts are often themed, and our annual cycle includes Scholars' & Exhibitioners' Concerts, ABRSM preparation concerts, chamber music concerts, recorded coursework concerts for those taking A level and GCSE Music, piano platform concerts, organ concerts, and concerts for those under Grade 4. We also present one lunchtime concert per term in All Saints Parish Church, High Wycombe.
Musical Ensembles
Girls at Wycombe Abbey are encouraged to pursue excellence in music performance and can do so by participating in the many musical ensembles that are offered at the School. Although many of the groups cater to our advanced players, there are opportunities for girls of all abilities to engage in collaborative music making.
Instrumental Ensembles
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First Orchestra
First Orchestra exists to give skilled instrumentalists the opportunity to play major symphonic works, and achieves an extremely high standard of performance. The vast majority of players are of Grade 7 standard or higher, and many have Grade 8 distinction on at least one instrument. Membership for string and brass players is on the recommendation of a girl's instrumental teacher, while woodwind players are auditioned in September.
First Orchestra rehearses in preparation for two performances annually: the Spring Concert, on a Sunday in March with an audience of parents and invited guests; and the Spring Concert preview, in front of the whole school on the preceding Friday. Our most advanced musicians in Clarence have the opportunity to play concerto movements with First Orchestra.
Second Orchestra
Second Orchestra is an ensemble for younger, less advanced instrumentalists which does, however, achieve remarkably polished performances thanks to the dedication of the girls involved and Miss McClure, Assistant Director of Music, who directs it. Membership is on the recommendation of a girl's instrumental teacher and part of the role of Second Orchestra is to help girls to develop the ensemble skills they will need to progress to First Orchestra. This is done within the context of repertoire that is by turns challenging and light-hearted. Second Orchestra performs twice annually: in the Sunday morning Chamber Concert in February and in the Summer Concert in May.
Chamber Orchestra
Chamber Orchestra is an extremely busy group and has as its core a group of extremely skilled and committed string players, to which wind players are added when required. Membership is by invitation of the Head of Strings, Mr Hadwen. The group performs to a very high standard in a wide range of styles and genres and also provides accompaniment to some of our concerto players.
The Chamber Orchestra performs outside school on a regular basis, to great acclaim, and undertakes international tours.
Concert Band
Concert Band is an inclusive ensemble that plays fun and engaging music in informal concerts and at events throughout the School year, such as whole School Carol Practice in the Autumn term. All wind instrumentalists are encouraged to join, and the group is run by Mr Ledingham, the Head of Woodwind and Brass.
Jazz Band
Jazz Band
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Jazz Band exists for those advanced performers who have an interest in jazz, and achieves an excellent standard of performance. The band is coached by the Head of Woodwind and Brass, Mr Ledingham, who also arranges much of the music they perform. The group puts on its own spectacular events such as the renowned Blacks and Blues Evening, as well as contributing to other high-profile School functions such as the Sports Dinner, Gala Ball and Highlights Dance Competition. The Jazz Band and small groups from its membership also receive bookings from outside School, and are always extremely well-received.
Brass Groups
The Senior and Junior Brass Groups rehearse weekly with Mr Copus and perform in informal concerts and at the Summer Concert in May. The Senior Brass Group also provides music for important occasions such as Remembrance Sunday.
Junior Band
Junior Band is for instrumentalists in UIII. For many girls, this is their first exposure to ensemble music-making and so we aim to make the experience as fun and enjoyable as possible, while instilling in them good habits upon which they can build as they progress through the School and into more senior groups. Junior Band performs in the UIII Christmas Entertainment at the end of the Autumn term, and on other informal occasions.
Choral Opportunities
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Chapel Choir
Chapel Choir is for those girls in UV-UVI who want to build their choral skills by singing regularly in both rehearsal and performance. All members are auditioned before joining. As the senior choral ensemble, singers are expected to and do show a mature commitment to the Choir and its performances. The Choir provides music for weekly Chapel services but also prepares for several major events throughout the year. These include the Carol Services, during which they sing to over 1200 people, the Archer Recital, Confirmation Services, the Summer Concert and Dove Day. In addition, the Choir visits cathedrals to sing and also benefits from time to time from masterclasses and workshops with world-class musicians.
The repertoire encountered by Chapel Choir is wide-ranging, reflecting the varied performances they give throughout the year. In the Summer Concert, for instance, the Choir sings secular and popular arrangements while at other times they will prepare the great Anglican anthems and settings of the Magnificat.
Choral Group
Choral Group is a non-auditioned group that spends the Autumn and Spring terms preparing for a joint concert with Eton held at the end of the Spring term each year. Usually, the programme consists of one major work such as Verdi Requiem, Elgar The Dream of Gerontius, Handel Messiah, Bach St John Passion. This is an extremely valuable opportunity for the girls to be part of a very special performance, with soloists and orchestra, and to experience singing within the richness of a full SATB texture.
Sub-Choir
Sub-Choir is for those girls in UIV and LV who want to gain experience of choral singing and build up some of the skills required for membership of Chapel Choir. The group provides music for one Chapel service per term as well as special occasions such as the Staff Carol Service.
Phire
Phire is a group formed and run entirely by the girls. They prepare for and lead a Chapel service in the Spring term each year. The repertoire tends to come from the Gospel tradition, and competition for membership is fierce.
UIII Singing
The whole UIII year group has a 40-minute singing session each week, during which the girls learn the fundamentals of singing as a choir, often in two or three parts. They prepare an anthem for a Junior House Service each term, as well as learning Christmas music for the UIII Entertainment.
