The main event on our horizon is of course the trip to Los Angeles, when we will be taking 48 students over to the other side of the world for the trip of a lifetime. I cannot believe we depart in just over a week! We have been steaming forward with rehearsing ahead of our performance on the main stage of Universal Studios, and are very much looking forward to our many other activities, which include a tour of the Hollywood Bowl, experiencing the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a tour of the University of Southern California campus, walking round the locations of many famous movies in Downtown LA, cycling along Venice Beach and a tour of the Warner Bros Studios. I look forward to reporting back after half term!
This week, we also had our Music Department Information Evening and Year 7 Informal Concert, one of my favourite events in the calendar as it gives our students their first chance to perform in public in the Senior School. Supported by the friendly, caring environment, it was the greatest of privileges to witness the talents of our new Year 7 cohort, and what a talented bunch they are. We were treated to performances on a variety of instruments, and it was a pleasure to be able to introduce parents and students to our wonderful department. Congratulations to all involved – Myles Hung, Mikayla Musha, Holly Soar, Arlo Woodward, Shivani Raval, Freddie Lewin, Niyam Chauhan, Phoebe Blow, Joshua Etty, Isabella Jones, Olivia Joyce, Dara Fatoke, Beth Reeves, Edward Burton and Annie Gray. We very much look forward to your musical journey unfolding and developing here at Ratcliffe.
After half term, once we have fully recovered from our Californian excursion, we have lots to look forward to here in the Music department as we lead up to Christmas. Our ABRSM examiner will visit on Monday 17thNovember, and the following day, we have our Scholars’ Concert, always a special occasion as we celebrate the talents of the department’s finest. Our Christmas Concert will take place on Friday 28th November, and for the first time in many years, all of our Year 7 cohort (who we were so impressed by this week!) will be involved – look out for a letter from me regarding this shortly. We are once again delighted to be invited to perform at De Montfort Hall for the Menphys Carol Concert on Friday 5th December, and the musical calendar year will conclude on Wednesday 10th December with our annual Music on the Balcony and Friday 12th December with the Senior Carol Service.
Wishing you all an enjoyable, musical half term break.
Mr Harris, Director of Music
