Music Highlights

Headline Performance: Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, 16 November

One of the hardest works in the mainstream choral repertoire, we had a gargantuan performance of Beethoven’s Magnum Opus, celebrating 200 years since it was premiered after a commission from the London Philharmonic Society. There were 95 singers from Chiswick Voices, Chiswick Community Choir, & the Junior choir who all sang their hearts out.

Make no mistake: Beethoven’s 9 is a horrid work to sing. Beethoven was a phenomenal instrumentalist but his ability to write effectively for voices is famously inept. This was discovered early on by the junior choir, who sung so high in the first rehearsal that half of them were on the verge of fainting, but two months later, their voices were much changed, and together with many others we gave performance that, according to one audience member, was ‘better than the Royal Festival Hall rendition I heard last week’.

We were also so grateful to be joined by Andy Slaughter MP and Karen Smith, Mayor of Hounslow. Watch the video here.

Performances

1 October - The Steel Bands went to Bedfordshire Police (of Channel 4 fame) for The International Conference of Women of Colour in policing. The band arrived at school for a 7am coach, and Beds police absolutely loved it. Watch the video here.

5 October - The Jazz band did a great 30 min set at an Arts Event at Chiswick Town Hall. Watch the video here.

9 October - Noughties Night

A whole concert devoted to the best decade of them all. Great solos from Marco, Markos, Orla and Harry, but also 3 brilliant debuts for our year 7 bands: Ember, Carnage and Dawn. We definitely want to see more of them. Watch the video here.

12 October, 14 October, 7 November - Uncle Dynamite have burst onto the music scene with three shows of all original rock music in quick succession. They’re growing into a very tight group indeed.

16 October - Amelia in Y9 did her first ever solo show at the City Barge. With a wonderful, calm, family atmosphere in the pub, a parent remarked afterwards ‘That’s the nicest City Barge gig I’ve been to’. Thanks also to Ella, Emily, Skye and Isabella, who all sang solos. Watch the video here.

7 November - Junior Recital Evening

The motto of this concert is ‘have a go’ and we had many Y7s 8s and 9s making their concert and solo debuts in front of a small but supportive audience. Huge well done to all who signed up and performed. Watch the video here.

8 November - Time Givers Christmas Single

Seven of our Year 9 and 10 students went to some (very secret) studios to record a single for our friends at TimeGivers. Mr Moxon is normally very skeptical of Christmas Singles, but this one is really quite impressive. It’ll be released later in December.

16 November - Beethoven’s 9th Symphony

One of the hardest works in the mainstream choral repertoire, we had a gargantuan performance of Beethoven’s Magnum Opus, celebrating 200 years since it was premiered after a commission from the London Philharmonic Society. There were 95 singers from Chiswick Voices, Chiswick Community Choir, and the Junior choir who all sang their hearts out, and we were so grateful to be joined by the Kew Sinfonia, Andy Slaughter MP and Karen Smith, Mayor of Hounslow. Watch the video here.

News and Notices

• Congratulations to Melina in Year 13 who has just secured a place in the National Youth Choir. This is a fantastic achievement, and is a real testament to her hard work over the last few years. She will be on her first residential course in the spring.
• We have appointed our first 10 music scholars who come from all around West London and received a guaranteed place at the school for September 2025, as well as free music lessons for three years. All families have accepted the offer and are absolutely thrilled at the news.
• Sign up for individual music lessons next term here.