Music Report 2018

This year was an event-filled one for the Music Department. At the beginning of December, the Chamber Choir and Folk Group helped to bring in Christmas cheer by performing Christmas carols at the Christmas Fayre. This was followed by the annual Carol Service at St. Columba’s Church which was a huge success. There were several solos with pupils from various year groups, displaying the talent Bloomfield has in every age group. One of the highlights of this year’s performance was the Junior Strings accompanying the Junior Choir in a beautiful rendition of Away in a Manger. The Senior Choir and Chamber Choir also performed challenging and varied pieces to a very high standard including a piece by Benjamin Britten and the traditional carol, “O Holy Night”.

During the Spring term, the Year 9 pupils took part in a Film Music Day facilitated by NERVE. All pupils wrote film music for a cartoon clip from the Iron Giant and had a lot of fun whilst being taught new, emerging skills and being introduced to possible new careers at the cutting edge of the arts world!

In March this year, the Music Department put on the annual Spring Concert. This year the theme was “A Night at the Theatre” with hits from many musicals including, The Greatest Showman, La La Land, We Will Rock You and Hamilton. The Senior Choir opened our concert with a medley of Queen songs from We Will Rock You including Bohemian Rhapsody, Somebody to Love and Radio Gaga. Cara Collins, Zoe Murdoch and Steffi Murdoch performed to a standard which would rival the late Freddy Mercury in Somebody to Love. The Folk Group performed an Ed Sheeran song “I See Fire” from the film The Hobbit and the Wind Band took us back to the 60s with a hit from Hairspray. The Junior Choir wowed the audience with their rendition of “A Million Dreams” from The Greatest Showman accompanied by beautiful solos from Storm Dougherty, Abi Armstrong, Rose Hamilton and Chido Matanganyidze. We are fortunate to have such dedication and talent throughout the year groups within the school and had over 150 pupils participating on the night including performers, backstage and front of house.

In May this year, the Senior Strings played at Tor Bank’s 50th birthday celebration with the Ulster Orchestra which was a very exciting and rewarding day for all involved.

2017/2018 has been another very successful year for the pupils taking individual music exams, both in their chosen instruments and theory. Of particular note are three pupils who completed their Singing Diplomas; a very prestigious qualification.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the extra-curricular music tutors for their support and encouragement of their music pupils and the various Music Department events and performances over the year. Their expertise and humour have been crucial in maintaining a very successful Music Department.

Mrs Marks (Head of Music)