Academic Departments Music
Music
Music
The New Music School, Concert Hall and other facilities
The opening of the new Music School and Concert Hall in September 2006 has demonstrated Millfield’s ongoing major commitment to the Arts. This facility incorporates a 350-seat concert venue, rehearsal areas for all our ensembles, six classrooms, twenty five teaching/practice rooms, recording studios and specialist percussion rooms. The Studio Suite consists of two live areas a large recording studio and a smaller drum suite each with appropriate acoustic treatment. Both are linked to a control room based around an analogue Audient console recording to an Apple based digital workstation. The studio is also linked to the new Concert Hall to make recording possible in a variety of configurations. The new facilities include a range of high quality microphones from Audix and a variety of outboard equipment.
Music Staff
Millfield’s Music Department comprises seven full-time members of staff and thirty five peripatetic teachers. Outside specialist music schools, this is one of the largest Music Departments in the UK.
- Director of Music- Ben Charles
- Assistant Director of Music and Head of Brass – Mortimer Rhind-Tutt
- Head of Strings – Clive Hughes
- Head of Woodwind – Leslie Sheills
- Head of Keyboard – Anselm Barker
- Class Music Teacher – Adrian Dearden
- Head of Lower School Music – Elena Lorimer
- Music Department Secretary – Judith Foster
Extra-curricular Music
Millfield has a proud tradition of music-making and provides an extensive range of opportunities for our pupils to express themselves musically. Currently, we have over thirty ensembles that perform in more than forty major concerts per year. These range from solo recitals to large-scale orchestral concerts; from chamber music concerts to stage musicals (the recent performance of Guys and Dolls was a huge success). A large number of concerts are given in the outside community and in October this year the Chamber Choir are travelling to Tuscany for a short concert tour. Further tours are planned for the future.
Music Scholarships
Millfield has a large Music Scholarship programme with up to 15 award holders in each year group. Auditions at 13+ and 16+ take place in January or February each year. Music Scholarships are worth up to 50% of fees and scholars receive two free lessons per week on their first instrument and one lesson per week on their second instrument. Music Exhibitioners receive one free lesson per week on their first and second instruments. Scholarship candidates are advised to book a pre-audition with the Director of Music who is happy to meet prospective pupils and parents at any time.
Further details on music awards can be obtained from Admissions on +44 (0) 1458 444296 or via email admissions@millfieldschool.com
Recent Musical Successes
Four of our pupils currently play with the National Youth Orchestra, one of them, Amy Yuan, as leader. Three pupils have successfully auditioned for the National Youth Choir and George Dye has won a Choral Scholarship to St. John’s College, Cambridge for September 2007. Other recent successes include Katy Hebditch reaching the Percussion Final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition 2006, a stunning achievement for one so young; two of our Chamber Ensembles have reached the finals of the National Chamber Music Competition four times in successive years; four Millfieldians have gone on to continue their musical studies at the major conservatoires in the last two years, and a further two will take up their places next September. We have also had a large number of musical successes at local level with our pupils winning competitions at the Mid-Somerset Festival in Bath and at the Taunton Festival.
Instrumental Teaching
Over 500 instrumental lessons are given each week on the following instruments:
- Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp
- Flute/Piccolo, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Bagpipes, Recorder, Saxophone
- Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba, Euphonium, Baritone
- Percussion (Drum Kit), Percussion (Orchestral)
- Guitar (acoustic and electric), Guitar (classical)
- Singing, Piano, Jazz Piano, Keyboard
Lessons are timetabled on a rotational basis although sixth formers are given lessons in their free periods. There is no obligation for pupils to take music exams but Millfield is a centre for the Associated Board and Rock School exam groups (a small number of Guildhall exams are taken).
Theory and aural classes are also offered.
Curricular Music
All pupils follow the Millfield year nine music course when they arrive and four classrooms have been equipped with the latest Intel iMacs running a variety of software to help this. Pupils are also introduced to recording and sequencing music using Garage Band. Pupils then opt for Music at GCSE and at A Level as they move through the School. All courses are made up of Performing, Composing and Listening/Appraising components. Music Technology is also offered as an A Level course in the Sixth Form and Millfield boasts a full range of technological equipment and software.
Contact Details Further details are available from the Music Department Office on +44 (0) 1458 444404 or via email music@millfieldschool.com