Trinity Term Music-Making Round Up

Well, what a musical term it has been!  Almost as soon as we had returned from the Easter holidays then Years 5 and 6 were back in action, singing superbly as ever for the Dementia-Friendly Service in the Cathedral on Wednesday 30 April.  We have built a really amazing partnership up with these services with pupils performing two songs, preparing gifts for the guests attending, and writing and reading prayers.  You can see the palpable difference it makes to those suffering from this cruel illness as their response to the children is really heart-warming.  The term ended as it begun as Year 5 and 6 pupils have taken part in the second Dementia-Friendly Service of the term, which was a joyful Songs of Praise, with hymns chosen by many of those attending from residential care homes.

We were delighted that during the Year 13 Leavers’ Assembly our first tranche of new LCS School Hymn Books were received by students who wanted a memento of their time at school and hopefully lots of fond memories of hymn singing – the school, was of course, founded because of the Cathedral Choir and therefore this seems like an apt reminder of an LCS career.

Our Wednesday at 1.15pm series has continued to be hugely successful, offering opportunities for many of our musical and dramatic students to perform in an informal setting. Don’t forget these recitals are open to anybody in our LCS community who would like to come along – you just need to sign in at reception and be escorted to Chapel where you will receive a warm welcome.  Recitals happen most Wednesdays during term-time.

Our performers this term have been:

30 April – Isla B (Monologue), Harvey M (Piano), Sophia A (Piano/Vocals)

7 May – Georgina B, Bella C and Mariella B (Voice), Elijah C (Piano), Daniel G (Poetry Speaking), Thomas H (Piano)

14 May – Ella D and Niamh S (Flute), Max P (Voice/Piano), Lily T (Voice)

21 May – Hollie T (Voice)

4 June – Avni C and Jacob M (Voice)

11 June – Milly T, Molly D and Abi D (Voice)

18 June – Emilia S, Abi D, Riya S, Miles H, Sammy A, William C (Violin solos) and Pizzicato Strings

25 June – Drumstix  

We also had a spectacular Years 8 and 9 concert on 22 May with 27 amazing solos ranging from Voice to Violin, Euphonium to Clarinet.  We were particularly proud of William C and George R who waited the whole evening to give the final two items when, due to a medical emergency, we had to cut the evening short.  We managed to get William to perform in the side room but George’s solo on the Drums had to wait, and so he performed a superb rendition of David Bowie’s ‘Let’s Dance’ for a full cathedral assembly a few weeks later.  George also gets another special mention for conducting the School Orchestra at Speech Day.

Four of our brilliant Sixth Form Choral Scholars had the opportunity to perform solos for a ‘Come and Sing Mozart’s Requiem’ on 21 June run by the Lichfield Cathedral Chorus at the Coton Centre – we know that Poppy G (Year 11), Will ET, Charlie W and Aaren C (all Year 13) did us proud.

Our annual Speech Day for Years 5-13 proved yet another exciting event showcasing a year of excellent music-making.  It was particularly pleasing to be able to show extracts of the opera ‘Semele’ to the wider school community alongside a whole host of excellent soloists and ensembles.  The Choristers and Cantorum were on spectacular form and afterwards guests and pupils were entertained by some excellent acts on the Palace Lawn.

We have been particularly pleased to hear of our students involving themselves in outdoor ensembles and performing events with a particular mention to those involved in Entrust concerts at the Coton Centre, Tamworth; in Stafford and most excitingly, at Symphony Hall.

The term has been busy with productions involving lots of singing – not least ‘The Litter Muncher’ (Year 1), 'Jonah and the Whale' (Year 2) and 'Pantastic' (Year 6).  Longdon also hosted an absolutely brilliant Showcase including the Longdon Choir, Wind Band and String Group, plus superb soloists.  Thanks must go to Mrs Pietrek who worked so hard to put it all together.  It was incredible to believe that the performers were all from Year 4 and below – again playing a variety of instruments from Oboe to Piano, from Cello to Guitar.  We were thrilled to have an excellent instrumental trial day, giving all our pupils in Reception to Year 3 the opportunity to try 9 different instruments!

Despite a large number of students being in examination years, Cantorum have sung Compline and Evensong, and enjoyed a meal for the end of the year at the Quill & Scholar, where they had sung Christmas Carols. 

It goes without saying that the Choristers have worked incredibly hard this term, as ever, with their incredibly busy weekly schedule.  Some highlights for them this term have included the Boy Choristers singing solo at a MusicShare concert for Wednesbury Schools, our Senior Choristers joining forces with Baldwin’s Gate CE Primary School who were thrilled to sing Choral Evensong and, of course, their amazing performance at St Paul’s Cathedral for the Clergy Support Trust, which has received so much praise nationally. The last weekend of term featured the final sung Choral Services of the academic year with our brilliant Cathedral Choir, who will be saying a fond farewell to several members who have given many years of service.

MusicShare continues to work with thousands of children every term.  We have had 3 major concerts this term, our Young and Youth Voices have performed ‘Captain Noah and His Floating Zoo’ and will be performing at the Fuse Festival.  MusicShare will conclude this term with a Summer Big Virtual Sing – likely streamed to 15,000 children from schools across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin.

The penultimate event of the year was our House Music competition and well done to all who put themselves forward for the heats.  The finalists were all brilliant, as was the winning house, Garrick, crowned on Friday.

Don’t forget to sign your children up to music lessons in the future and consider joining one of our many school ensembles.  Encourage those already learning not to forget to rehearse over the summer holidays and we look forward to more amazing music-making in the next academic year.

Cathy Lamb