St Edmund's School Canterbury

An independent co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 3-18

Canterbury, Kent
CT2 8HU

01227 475600
info@stedmunds.org.uk


  • Eddie Daniels, Grammy award-winning clarinetist

Musical opportunities

Music School Blog

Catch up with all the news from the Music School by subscribing to the blog from Will Bersey, Director of Music. In addition to regular news, you will be able to listen to recordings of the various ensembles.

Choral Society

The Choral Society reconvenes on Thursday 12th January, to commence preparations for this year's Gala Concert in Canterbury Cathedral on Thursday 15th March. This year's repertoire includes Poulenc's Gloria, which will be performed with soprano soloist Tamsin Coombs, alongside the school Chapel Choir, Cathedral Choristers and the St Edmund's Symphony Orchestra. Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings throughout the term, from 7.30pm - 9pm, in the Music School. There is a charge of £15 for membership, and a further £5 if you need to hire music. However, in order to encourage participation, we are happy to welcome curious participants to a free first rehearsal if they wish to ‘dip their toes’ in what might be their first such experience of this kind. We place a great emphasis on fun in rehearsals, and there are no auditions or solos! Just come along next Thursday from 7pm onwards to register - there is no need to register in advance.

Eddie Daniels is coming to Canterbury!

Grammy award winning clarinetist Eddie Daniels will be the very special guest at an event being held at St Edmund’s School Canterbury, on Saturday 11th February 2012. Eddie will be holding a masterclass in the school theatre and appearing in the evening as a soloist with The David Rees-Williams Trio.

This is a rare UK appearance from Eddie and, with tickets for the masterclass and concert restricted,a sell out audience is expected.

St Edmund’s has a strong musical tradition, being the home of the Cathedral Choristers and the East Kent Children’s Orchestra, and lists former BBC Young Musician of the Year Freddie Kempf among its former pupils. The school has an on-going partnership with The English Chamber Orchestra, holding masterclasses and workshops throughout the academic year.

The day has been organised by CASS member Ian Swatman who is Head of Instrumental Studies at St Edmund’s. ‘Eddie doesn’t appear in the UK very often and this is an amazing opportunity to see him perform in the relatively intimate setting of our school theatre. It is so exciting for the school and a chance see one of the world’s leading musicians.’

Masterclass participant applications maybe made to igs@stgedmunds.org.uk.

Tickets will go on sale in November. Details available here soon.

Links:

www.eddiedanielsclarinet.com

www.davidrees-williams.com

Close Encounters: An exciting new partnership between St Edmund's and the English Chamber Orchestra

We are very proud to announce a new and exciting partnership between St Edmund’s School and the English Chamber Orchestra (ECO), which will bring members of the orchestra to the school on a regular basis to work with both pupils in the school and those who join us from the wider community in our broad orchestral programme. St Edmund’s already has unique and flourishing outreach into local schools, principally via the East Kent Children’s Orchestra (EKCO), which brings children aged 8-12 from across East Kent on a weekly basis to enjoy an engaging and demanding programme of orchestral opportunities.

Through becoming the ECO’s first Creative Connections school, St Edmund’s pupils will experience the wide and far reaching benefits derived from being coached in their own orchestra by members of a prestigious international chamber orchestra. Further opportunities will include hearing their own compositions realised in workshops by ECO musicians, joining the Close Encounters creative team to work with young primary aged children in nearby community schools and hearing the ECO perform in one of the planned trips to its London Concert Series.

Paul Watkins, Principal Conductor of the English Chamber Orchestra said, "I am delighted to hear about the ECO's involvement with St Edmund's School, Canterbury. I am sure that this relationship will bring many rewarding musical experiences to a great number of young musicians, not just at the school, but in the wider East Kent community."

To read more about the ECO please follow this link http://www.englishchamberorchestra.co.uk/

East Kent Children's Orchestra - a youth orchestra

This orchestra comprising young musicians from the School and the local community in East Kent has enjoyed a most successful first year. The ensemble is for pupils ages 7 - 12 and of a minimum standard of Grade 2.

Rehearsals will be on a Wednesday afternoon from 4.30 pm - 5.30 pm in the main School Hall.

The orchestra will run in partnership with St Edmund's School Canterbury.

Aspiring young instrumentalist are invited to join in this exciting opportunity and to develop their musical talents.

First performance

For further information on any of these wonderful musical opportunities, please contact the Director of Music on telephone 01227 475620 or email music@stedmunds.org.uk.