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Marlborough College enjoys an enviable national reputation for the quality and range of its music making. The College boasts outstanding facilities including three concert halls.
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Music in the school is by no means geared entirely to specialists and we hope that all pupils feel that there are plenty of opportunities for participation through a full programme of concerts, master classes, trips, musicals, House concerts and the House Singing Competition. |
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Music Scholars
The 35 Music Scholars are closely monitored and supported in their musical aspirations, through a mentoring system with the Artistic Director. There are two annual assessments, social activities, discounted tickets for the professional concert series and allocated practice time throughout the week.
A wide range of music scholarships are available every year at Shell and Lower Sixth entry points, supplemented by the String Scholarship Fund which offers financial support to string players of exceptional promise. |
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The Chapel Choir numbers some 55 singers and benefits from the presence of ex-Cathedral choristers. It sings fully choral services most Sundays and at major festivals as well as at the Advent and Christmas Carol services.
Conducted by the College’s Director of Chapel Music, the Choir also sings Evensong in a Cathedral twice a year: recent visits have included Gloucester, Bristol, Winchester, Salisbury and Bath Abbey. |
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| The Choir has been on a series of summer tours traveling to the USA, Portugal, Italy and Eastern Europe and has recorded several CDs. |
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Pupils and staff are welcome to join Choral in the Lent Term, combining with the Chapel Choir to rehearse for the Choral Concert which takes place in the Chapel in March. For this, the Chapel Choir, Choral and Choral Society (members of the local community) perform a large scale choral work in a choir of 300 voices with a semi-professional orchestra and outstanding soloists. Recent works have included requiems by Brahms, Faure, John Rutter, Durufle and the Haydn Nelson Mass. |
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Chamber Choir is a small group formed by invitation and comprises some twenty of the College’s best singers. It is directed by the Director of Chapel Music. The choir performs a wide-ranging repertoire, from the early sacred music of Byrd and Monteverdi to modern choral works by Britten and Tavener; in addition, they sing secular pieces including madrigals, part-songs and arrangements. They perform at College events but also give an annual fund-raising concert in local churches. |
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A full Symphony Orchestra of over fifty of the best instrumental players in the school performs at termly themed concerts which attract large audiences. String players need to be of Grade 6 and above standard, and the rest play by invitation. Some of the best players are invited to perform concerto movements in the annual Concerto Concert. The orchestra, conducted by various Heads of Department including the Artistic Director, also receives specialist coaching from both the Head of Strings and Head of Wind as well as other visiting specialists; it rehearses for two hours each week and performs a wide-ranging and demanding repertoire. A tour to Malaysia is planned for 2010. |
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Players of Grade 6 standard and above may be invited to join this successful group directed by the Head of Strings. The orchestra explores a diverse and changing repertoire. Wind players occasionally augment the orchestra for 20th century repertoire and the accompanying of concertos and vocal operatic extracts. In recent years, the Chamber Orchestra has received high acclaim for its performance at the National Music for Youth Festival at the Royal Festival Hall. |
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The Big Band rehearses weekly and performs regularly during school concerts. The full-size line-up of trumpets, trombones and saxophones is joined by a vibrant rhythm section to play a variety of swing and rock as well as traditional folk music. The ensemble, directed by the Head of Wind, provides as many opportunities for whole band improvisation and playing by ear as possible. |
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Brasser is a full wind band of seventy and is the flagship of the wind department, performing at concerts regularly throughout the year. The repertoire is varied, from contemporary works to the more traditional repertoire and, each year, the band, directed by the Head of Wind, is featured in the Wind Department’s own popular Christmas Concert. Both the Wind Band and the Big Band have reached the finals of the National Festival of Music for Youth on two occasions, placing them amongst the top ensembles of their kind in the country. Both Brasser and Big Band recently toured South Africa and Italy. |
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Junior Strings (which also opens its membership to selected guitarists) performs in the end of year concert. Shell Wind and Percussion players of Grade 4-6 ability take part in the Shell Concert Band. This is a course where the product is far less important than the process; in effect a music course for instrumentalists. Playing by ear, improvisation, composition and ‘the art of performance’ are all covered. Junior Singers meet every week with girls (and boys) singing soprano and alto parts with a wide ranging repertoire. They perform in the Junior Jamboree Concert alongside other soloists, duets etc. at the end of the Summer Term. |
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Tuesday Lunchtime Recitals are short, informal events which take place in the Goodison Hall. There are also additional evening Informal Concerts and Advanced Pupils’ Recitals given by music scholars and other more advanced pupils. Concerts featuring compositions and Music Technology as well as the many ‘House Concerts’ are attended by friendly audiences throughout the year. |
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There are regular weekly sessions for groups at all levels who wish to play chamber music. The more successful ensembles find their way into College concerts and occasionally outside special events. The College regularly enters the National Chamber Music Competition and the Midsomerset Festival. |
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The Music Festival was introduced in January 2006. To provide focus, it takes the form of a music competition. Six professional adjudicators judge six disciplines (strings, woodwind, brass, percussion, keyboard and singing) and an ensemble class in various venues throughout the College. The winners of the various classes and some of those highly commended perform their pieces in a concert later in the Lent Term. |
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In the Michaelmas Term, house groups compete in the House Song Competition for a trophy adjudicated by a visiting professional musician. This is a great opportunity for participation by every pupil at the College. Each House prepares a House song and a harmony for a smaller ensemble. Pupils direct and conduct each performance and this is, for many, one of the highlights of the school year. |
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