 Music Tuition
Music is always important in a Cathedral School and Hereford Cathedral School is generously provided for in the School’s timetable. All year 7 and Year 8 receive two music periods a week, and Year 9 is taught on a half-termly rota with Drama. Music is offered to Year 10 and 11 at GCSE, presently following the Edexcel syllabus. Music and Music Technology are offered at A and AS level, both presently with Edexcel, and the courses are often tailored to the specific needs of the individual student. Pupils are prepared for the Oxbridge awards and the School has an impressive record of organ and choral scholarships at Oxford and Cambridge.
Instrumental Lessons
The Music School offers a broad choice of instrumental tuition including piano, organ, violin, viola, ‘cello, double bass, flute and jazz flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion, saxophone, guitar, bass guitar, recorder, singing, and Alexander Technique, which are taught by a large and dedicated team of specialists who are based here at the Music School. These weekly lessons cost £16.25 and are of 30 minutes duration.
Orchestras and Bands
Practical music making is an important feature of the Cathedral School and instrumentalists are expected to join one of the School’s orchestras, bands or ensembles. This not only gives students the opportunity to enjoy music making together, but also offers the experience of performing at lunchtime and evening concerts within the School. Music students also make an important contribution to larger musical events in the Cathedral and outside School too.
A busy 2012......
· In February, Cantabile Girls’ Choir were competitors in the semi-finals of the BBC Songs of Praise Choir of the Year 2012. They were one of the six choirs chosen from one hundred and thirty who entered the competition, and their performance was highly praised.
· At the end of February the Senior Chamber Choir was judged one of the Choirs of the Day during the audition round of the BBC Choir of the Year 2012 competition in Warwick. They go on to the national selection stages in Manchester in October. Only five choirs out of the regional heats were judged to be a Choir of the Day so far, so for the Senior Chamber choir to accomplish this is a great achievement.
· In March, forty one members of the School’s Chapel Choir were invited to join two other choirs at the Millennium Stadium as the pre-match entertainment before the Six Nations rugby match between Wales and Italy. 74,000 people at the stadium and a television audience of millions and enjoyed a selection of traditional Welsh and Italian songs including Delilah and Verdi’s Van Pensioro and the national anthems of both countries.
· Later in March, Cantabile Girls’ Choir won the Herefordshire Festival of Performing Arts 2012, and was judged Choir of the Year. This continued their very successful annual record at this Festival and the acquisition of some splendid trophies for the trophy cabinet!
· In July, Cantabile Girls' Choir won the Senior Children's Choir section of the 66th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, with a score of 95.6 marks out of 100, in front of a worldwide audience. There were 17 other choirs from across the globe in their section. Please CLICK HERE to view Cantabile at the Eisteddfod 2012 / Please CLICK HERE to view Cantabile at the Eisteddfod 2011.
And 2013's many highlights so far include ....
In March many music students won trophies and commendations at the Hereforshire Festival of Performing Arts and we won the Harmonic Society Cup again; although this year the Evangeline Anthony Trophy and the Hereford Times Shield were won by other schools - the music students are determined to try to regain them at next year's Festival!
Cantabile entered the Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts in May and won the Whitehead Cup, accompanied by some very complimentary comments on their singing by the judges. It was described as 'gorgeous', 'magic' and 'stunning' and their 'fantastic balanced part singing' was particularly praised. They gained marks of 92 out of 100 which is a rare feat - so once again, well done Cantabile!
On the 5th June HCS Singers have been invited to take part in Evensong at Hereford Cathedral at which they will perform a major part of the ceremony. Members of the public are welcome to attend.
On the 10th July Cantabile have once gain been invited to perform at the International Eisteddfod at Llangollen in Wales. They are looking forward to competing at this very high level against choirs from all over the world and hope to repeat the success they achieved last year.
On October 21st of this year the School's Chapel Choir has been invited to sing at Evensong in St Paul's Cathedral, London which everyone is very much looking forward to. The Choir is particularly pleased to have this rare opportunity to show its choral skills in the prestigious setting of this iconic Cathedral.
On November 22nd, St. Cecilia's Day, all of the School's choirs will be involved in the Benjamin Britten 100 Concert at Hereford Cathedral to mark Britten's centenary. This evening concert will rival some of the largest concerts the Music School has performed.
Music Department Staff
Director of Music: Mr. D.R. Evans, M.A., G.B.S.M
Head of Academic Music: Mrs M J Cuthbert, B Mus
Academic Musician: Mr A.W. Semple, B.A., CertRCO
Music Administrator: Mrs E. Portman-Lewis, B.A.
Cathedral Organist: Mr G.R.L. Bowen, M.A., Mus.B., F.R.C.O.
Assistant Cathedral Organist: Mr P. Dyke, M.A., F.R.C.O., L.T.C.L.
Choristers' Welfare: Mr M Gacek
Instrumental Staff:
Mr G. Adams, F.L.C.M., L.T.C.L., oboe
Mrs S. Aston, A.R.C.M., violin and viola
Mrs C.L. Bowen, M.A., L.R.A.M., voice
Mr G.R.L. Bowen, M.A., MusB., F.R.C.O., organ
Mrs R. Davies, B.Mus., piano
Mrs H. Davis, L.R.A.M., violin
Mr P. Dyke, M.A., F.R.C.O., L.T.C.L., organ, piano and chorister theory
Mr S. Essenhigh, A.G.S.M., trumpet
Mr D. Etheridge, double bass and bass guitar
Dr C.A.H. Fisher, B.A., M.R.C.P., M.R.C.G.P., recorder
Mrs K.A. Fisher, B.A., A.R.C.M, piano, recorder, violin and music theory
Mr N. Gethin, M.A., L.R.A.M., 'cello and double bass
Mrs R. Griffiths, B.A., L.G.S.M., clarinet
Mrs H. Hammond, ‘cello
Ms S. Heins, Dip.T.C.L., violin and viola
Mrs J. Hiles, G.B.S.M., percussion
Mrs K. Hill, G.T.C.L., L.T.C.L., piano
Mrs C. Howell, G.R.S.M., L.R.A.M., piano
Mr M. Lane, B.A., F.R.C.O., L.T.C.L., piano
Miss E. Lawrence, G.R.S.M., A.R.C.M., L.R.A.M., A.R.C.O., flute and piano
Mrs C. Morgan, B.Mus., piano
Mr F.V. O'Neil, B.A., L.T.C.L., saxophone, recorder and jazz flute
Mr R.G.N. Rhodes, M.A., early music
Ms L. Richardson, B.Mus., guitar
Mr I. Russell, lower brass
Mr A.W. Semple, B.A., CertRCO, piano, theory and aural
Mrs K. Soulsby, A.R.C.M., bassoon
Mr M. Taylor, B.Sc., A.R.C.M., training band
Mr C. Tully, alexander technique
Mrs A. Wessel, L.G.S.M., flute
Mrs J. Williamson, G.B.S.M. voice
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