The last fortnight has been incredibly busy for all Packwood pupils and staff, and the Music Department has been no exception, with several musical events taking place within several days.
10 pupils, ranging from Year 3 to Year 8 and from Initial Grade to Grade 6, performed solos at Shrewsbury School as part of their lunchtime concert series. All were due to sit music exams the following week, so this presented an ideal opportunity for each of them to perform an exam piece to an audience. With this behind them, playing or singing for a single examiner would hopefully be a far less daunting experience!
The following week, 50 musicians – one third of the prep school – took part in our lunchtime concert at St Alkmund’s, a beautiful historic church in Shrewsbury. The audience, which included members of St Alkmund’s congregation as well as a good number of our own supporters, was offered a varied programme, ranging from the mediaeval ‘Gaudete’ to uplifting numbers by the Big Band. Our Boys’ Choir, Girls’ Choir and several chamber ensembles performed, all showing confidence and a real enjoyment of music. The concert also afforded our two recent Music Scholars, Sally and Morgan, the opportunity to perform vocal and clarinet solos respectively. We were made to feel hugely welcome and were delighted to have been invited to provide a concert again next year.
Following a long session of music exams at school later that week, we are now preparing for our Junior Concert next week. 45 pupils from Years 2 to 5 will be playing and singing, some for the first time; a lovely chance for them to perform in a friendly, sympathetic environment.
It is wonderful to see so many pupils of all ages and levels engaged in so many aspects of music with such positivity and enjoyment!
