We are a further two weeks into the new academic year, and plenty more musical progress has been made. Last week, we celebrated our one-year anniversary of being an All-Steinway School, and it was lovely to recall the incredible experience of delivery day, when we performed a 14-piano recital in our Chapel. Our new pianos have made a truly indelible mark on the musical life of the College, and I still pinch myself every morning when I walk into work and take the cover off our concert grand! Our students are so fortunate to be able to practise on and enjoy playing some of the finest instruments in the world, and we are now truly reaping the rewards of this programme with the high standard of musical output in the department. Co-curricular activities have got off to an excellent start, with the Choir already having nearly perfected their performance for next week’s Harvest Festival, the Orchestra making light work of a complex but beautiful arrangement of Pirates of the Caribbean scores and the Swing Band grooving along to some K-Pop. Our relationship with Drama goes from strength to strength and to hear ‘Matilda the Musical’ come to life with our whole-cast read through last week was a joy to behold. Once again, I was honoured to showcase our wonderful department to many visitors last Saturday at Open Morning, proudly explaining the extensive opportunities and experiences receive here in the Music department. Last Friday’s Menphys Carol Concert meeting took place on an unseasonably warm September afternoon, perfect for getting in the festive spirit, and once again we very much look forward to participating in the concert this December at De Montfort Hall with over 20 other Catholic schools in the area. This is an attendance-based reward activity for just 18 of our Choir members, giving them the experience of a lifetime in such a prestigious venue. This week, the first event of our concerts and recitals series took place, with the Lockhart Garden providing a beautiful setting for some of our musicians to showcase their talents. For the first time in my tenure at Ratcliffe, the event was able to go ahead at the first time of asking without having to be postponed due to rain! It was a bright, sunny afternoon and the large audience no doubt very much appreciated the opportunity to be so greatly entertained as they queued up for lunch. Congratulations to all involved – Eashaan Acharya, Florence Rudkin, Isabelle Ryce, Grace-Ava Smith, Devashree Raniga, Mia Gu and Phoebe Blow. For some of these students, it was their first ever public performance at Ratcliffe, and we look forward to many more to come. Coming up, we have our Music Department Information Evening and Year 7 Informal Concert which we are all really looking forward to, taking place on Tuesday 7thOctober at 5pm in the Music Hall. The sign-up list is full so no doubt it will be a fantastic event for these students’ first ever public performance in the Senior School. We look forward to welcoming lots of you then, and even if they are not performing, we hope Year 7s will join us to support their peers and enjoy an evening of music. Wishing you all an enjoyable, musical fortnight. Mr Harris, Director of Music
