Music Calendar

Music Calendar Autumn Term 2024

01923 845495 music@mtsn.org.uk

All information c orrect at time of going to press: 1st July 2024

Music Department Sta f

Director of Music Mr Simon Couldridge DipTCL Assistant Director of Music Mrs Joan Stubbs BMus ARCO ALCM Teacher of Music

Mr Daniel Tonks BA (Oxon) MSt DipLCM MCCT

Teacher of Music Graduate Musician Music Administrator

Miss Fıona Martin BMus MEd Miss Maya Shepherd Mr Samuel Hill BA (Dunelm)

Visiting Music Teachers

Mr Warren Alexander DipTCL Mr Joseph Atkins DipRAM ARAM ARCM Miss Celine Barry BA (Hons) RCM Miss Poppy Beddoe BA MA ARAM Mr Steven Byron BMus (Hons) RCM Miss Susan Clark MA (Cantab) MA (OU) LRSM ARCM DipRCM CTABRSM Ms Karen Cormican GTCL PDOT Miss Odette Cotton BMus (Hons) MA Mrs Rosie Couldridge GTCL Mr Andrew Gathercole GGSM Miss Nicola Hawkins GLCM FLCM ARCM Mr Dieter Hester DipTCL LTCL PDOT Mr Richard Hobson MA (Oxon) ARCO Mr Leon Liu BMus MPerf ArtDip DipABRSM Mrs Naadia Manington BMus LGSM Mr Damon Robb RMSM LRAM Mr Duncan Saunderson GGSM Mrs Mayumi Stone BMus MA DipRAM Mrs Nicola Tait LRAM (Hons) Mr Richard Wainwright BA (Hons) ARAM LRAM (Adv) DipRAM Mr Jonathan Lawrence BA Mr Neil Martin

Guitar Trumpet

Cello, Double Bass

Clarinet

Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba

Piano

Violin, Viola

Oboe

Violin, Viola, Piano

Trumpet

Classical Guitar

Bassoon, Music Production

Piano, Organ Percussion

Piano

Piano, Jazz Piano

Percussion

Saxophone, Flute

Singing Piano Cello

French Horn, Trumpet

Monday 23rd – Friday 27th September Senior Music Competition: Preliminary Rounds Times by arrangement

Open to boys in the Fıfth and Sixth forms. Entries by Monday 16th September, 5pm; by when accompaniments are to be submitted also. (not open to the public)

Tuesday 24th September Organ Recital 1:00pm, St Lawrence Jewry As part of the school’s institutional accreditation to the Royal College of Organists, several of the school’s organists give a lunchtime recital at this famous London church. Free; no registration required.

Monday 7th October Music Scholars’ Concert 7:00pm, Exam Hall We welcome to Merchant Taylors’

new music scholars and exhibitioners who will perform alongside existing award holders. Refreshments will be served beforehand. Free; no registration required.

Wednesday 9th October Senior Music Competition: Final 7:00pm, Recital Hall Advanced instrumentalists and singers participate in a feast of music, culminating in the winning of prizes for each section (woodwind, brass, keyboard, strings, percussion, and singing), together with an overall winner who received the Reynolds Cup for Excellence in Musical Performance. Visiting Adjudicator: Phil Scott OMT

Monday 14th October Lower School Concert 7:00pm, Exam Hall Together with the Wind Band and Sinfonia, musicians from the Th ird and Upper Th ird forms perform a variety of music from across the ages. Th e concert will include performances by those who

have taken part in the Th ird Form ‘Rare Breed’ Instrumental Scheme. Free; registration at development.mtsn.org.uk/events Refreshments served from 6:30pm

Friday 18th October Service of Commemoration and Th anksgiving for the Merchant Taylors’ School 2:00pm, St Paul’s Cathedral (not open to the public)

Sunday 20th – Th ursday 24th October Organists’ Tour to the Netherlands Based in Haarlem, the organists will visit churches in Haarlem, Amsterdam, and Alkmaar for masterclasses, as well as attending a concert at the Concertgebouw, and visiting the workshops of Flentrop, organ builders. Th ere will be one public recital on Tuesday 22nd October at 5:00pm in St Nicholas Basilica, Amsterdam (pictured) . Parents’ information evening: Thursday 19th September, 6:00pm

Monday 28th – Wednesday 30th October Leading Notes Chamber Music Course A three-day non-residential chamber music course during half

term led by the MTS Director of Music and professional chamber musicians. For advanced and improving string players (minimum standard: Grade 4) of all ages. For more information, please contact leading.notes@hotmail.co.uk

Monday 11th November Remembrance Service 8:35am, Great Hall Th e school gathers to give thanks for the sacrifice made for the country. Th e service is led by the Chaplain, with music sung by the Chamber Choir. (not open to the public)

Wednesday 20th – Friday 22nd November Joint Schools’ Musical: West Side Story (School Edition) 7:00pm, Great Hall Pupils from Merchant Taylors’ and St Helen’s perform the popular musical by Leonard Bernstein. Tickets available from development.mtsn.org.uk/events or 01923 845495

Friday 29th November Teatime Concert 4:30pm, Recital Hall

Join us from 4:00pm for an array of tea, co f ee, cakes, and biscuits, before enjoying a short concert of solos and small ensembles.

Tuesday 3rd December Vernon’s Anniversary Service 12 noon, St Michael, Cornhill

Th e Chamber Choir sings at the Company’s annual service which commemorates the benefaction of John Vernon, Master of the Company in 1609. (not open to the public)

Sunday 8th December Festival of Lessons and Carols 3:30pm, Great Hall to include music from Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols

All are welcome to attend this traditional carol service, which includes familiar congregational carols and scripture readings alongside seasonal music led by the School Choir, Chamber Choir, and Choral Society. Free; registration at development.mtsn.org.uk/events

Monday 9th – Wednesday 11th December ABRSM Practical Exams Recital Hall

Internal deadline for entries: Friday 8th November, 1pm (not open to the public)

Th ursday 12th December Music in the Undercroft 2:00pm Soloists and small ensembles present a short programme of largely festive music during the Hour. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served. (not open to the public)

Th ursday 12th December Doctors’ Dinner 7:00pm, Merchant Taylors’ Hall

Th e Th omas White singers sing grace and a musical interlude for Doctors’ Dinner, one of the most important events in the year of the School and Company. (not open to the public)

Guide to Music Lessons Instrumental and singing lessons are 40 minutes long, and take place throughout the day starting at the following times:

7:40am* 8:20am* 9:00am 9:40am 10:20am 11:20am 12 noon 12:40pm 1:50pm* 2:30pm 3:10pm 3:50pm* 4:30pm*

Pupils will need to register at Reception after this lesson time

Th ese times rotate the most

Not for those who get the early coach

* Th e lessons at these times may be fxed. Th e lesson times are agreed with pupils’ instrumental/singing teachers and displayed on the noticeboards outside the Recital Hall. In due course they will be begin to be published on SOCS, accessible at socscms.com/login/180. Th is can be accessed by pupils, teachers, and parents. Most instrumental/singing lessons are rotated each week so that pupils only miss parts of di f erent academic lessons throughout the term. It is intended that pupils who learn more than one instrument will have one lesson fxed outside the time of academic lessons. Pupils in the Upper Sixth will have lessons fxed in a free period. Apart from organ lessons, all instrumental lessons take place in the Music Department. Th e whiteboard near the Instrument Store displays where the VMTs will be teaching each day. It is important that pupils check the time of their music lesson(s) regularly so that they can ask permission from their academic teacher to attend their music lesson. Pupils must let their teachers know at least 24 hours in advance. Pupils must contact their music teacher immediately if they think that there will be a problem with the scheduled time of their music lesson, no later than 48 hours before the lesson. Th e teacher will try to reschedule the lesson but this may not always be possible. Academic teachers will always give pupils plenty of notice of important tests so this should never be a reason for missing a music lesson.

Th eory and Aural Classes Free theory and aural classes are run by Miss Clark at 8:15am on Th ursday and Friday mornings respectively. Th eory classes are open to pupils preparing for any grade; aural classes are o f ered to support those pupils preparing for grades 6, 7, and 8 practical exams. To sign up for these classes pupils should add their names to the sheets on the ensemble notice board. Music Scholarships and Exhibitions Scholarships and exhibitions in music are o f ered annually to pupils at 11+, 13+, and 16+ entry, and o f er free instrumental and/or singing tuition on two studies. Each year the school awards one scholarship of up to 25% of the school fees, one scholarship of up to 15%, and two scholarships of up to 10% of the fees. Th e school also awards up to four exhibitions each year, o f ering free tuition on two studies. Th e Director of Music, Simon Couldridge, is always happy to meet prospective candidates and answer enquiries at any stage. For more information, please contact the Music Administrator, Samuel Hill, via email at music@mtsn.org.uk or by telephone on 01923 845495. Serenaders Music Support Group Th e Serenaders Music Support Group is a group of parents and friends which since 1994 has supported the musical life of Merchant Taylors’ School through fundraising events, and by serving refreshments at concerts. Th e next social event will be the Quiz Night on 1st March 2025. Tickets may be obtained through the school Development O f ce. To fnd out more about the Serenaders, please contact the Chair of the Committee, Dr Karina Johnson, at serenaders@mtsn.org.uk Information and Tickets For more information please contact the Music Administrator, Samuel Hill: E: music@mtsn.org.uk T: 01923 845495 W: mtsn.org.uk/life-at-taylors/activities/music Where events require tickets or registration, this can be done through the school Development O f ce: E: events@mtsn.org.uk T: 01923 845545 W: development.mtsn.org.uk/events

Weekly Rehearsal Schedule

Monday

8.15am

Big Band

Recital Hall

Mr Gathercole & Mrs Manington

* 8.15am * 8.15am 1.50pm * 1.50pm * 8.15am * 8.15am * 1.50pm * 3.50pm 3.50pm †8.00pm 8.15am 8.15am * 1.50pm 3.50pm * 3.50pm * 8.15am 8.15am * 8.15am * 8.15am * 8.15am 8.15am 1.50pm

String Quartet Wind Quintet Wind Band

MU82 MU89

Mrs Tait

Recital Hall

Miss Martin Mr Couldridge Miss Martin Miss Cotton Mr Tonks Mr Couldridge

Chamber Orchestra

MU82

Tuesday

Dixieland Band Wind Quintet Concert Band

Recital Hall

MU82

Recital Hall Recital Hall

Symphony Orchestra

Sinfonia

MU82

Mr Hill

Choral Society

Recital Hall

Mrs Stubbs

Wednesday 8.15am

Choir: Tenors & Basses Recital Hall

Mrs Stubbs

Th ursday

Percussion Ensemble Music Th eory Class

Recital Hall

Mr Lawrence Miss Clark Mrs Stubbs Mrs Stubbs Mr Couldridge

MU82

Chamber Choir

Recital Hall

Choir: Trebles & Altos Recital Hall

Chamber Music

MU82

Friday

Taylors’ Brass Guitar Ensemble Recorder Consort Clarinet Quartet

Recital Hall

Mr Byron

MU82

Miss Hawkins

Saxophone Ensemble Tom Isaacs Rm Mr Robb

MU88 MU91 MU89

Mr Tonks

Miss Beddoe Miss Clark Mrs Stubbs

Aural Class Choir: Full

Recital Hall

* Entry by invitation.

†Rehearsals begin 24th September

MU82 = Music Classroom MU89 = Keyboard Room Merchant Taylors’ School, Sandy Lodge, Middlesex, HA6 2HT