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Berkhamsted Music Festival 2017
| Inclusive opportunities: Music Festival provided an array of specialist workshops, performances and concerts involving pupils from Year 3 all the way through to Year 13. |
Over 300 Berkhamsted School pupils have participated in Music Festival 2017. This year’s topics introduced pupils to Jazz and Improvisation, World Music, Traditional and Contemporary Ensemble Vocal Techniques and included Masterclasses by exceptional visiting musicians on Strings, Woodwind and Brass.
On the opening evening over 100 musicians from across our family of schools gathered in Deans’ Hall to perform as a large-scale ensemble. 
Our guest musician Paul Barritt delivered four back-to-back workshops before combining with Berkhamsted School’s string players to perform at Centenary Theatre. With Paul’s expertise and enthusiastic coaching, each pupil benefited tremendously from his visit.
| “Superb Festival. My year 6 daughter had the privilege of participating in both the Orchestral workshop & the Paul Barritt strings session. I was so impressed at the orchestra performance; it was incredible to see and hear such a large and diverse orchestra performing cohesively after such a short rehearsal. I felt the Music Festival Week displayed Berkhamsted School’s commitment to nurturing musical talent, experience and excellence.” Tiba Rao, Parent. |
Returning for their second appearance at Berkhamsted Music Festival, Tom and Alexandra Ridout led Brass and Woodwind workshops. Tom and Alexandra, both award winning young Jazz musicians, provided a great inspiration to pupils. Their exceptional talent was on display as the Jazz band combined to include Berkhamsted School teacher Mark Ridout for the concert inside the atmospheric Chapel on Castle Campus.
| “I really enjoyed the jazz workshop I was part of for Big Band and would love to do that kind of thing again. Seeing Mr Ridout and his children perform on stage was amazing and I could have listened all night. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for next time!” Alice Stanley, Pupil. . |
| ‘The music week was very interesting and I learnt a lot. It was cool and I did lots of things I had not done before including beet-boxing. Mr Ridouts performance was a very high standard.” Arthur Barfield, Pupil. |
St Peter’s Church hosted a Lunchtime Recital by some of Berkhamsted’s most talented musicians. A glorious series of performances entertained an audience with the theme ‘A Romantic Journey.’
| “The lunchtime recital- ‘A Romantic Journey’ was wonderful. Everyone that took part was so talented and the setting in St Peters church was great. Thank you for putting on such a great show!” Charlotte McCormick, Parent. |
To celebrate Chinese New Year, our guest musician, Ruard Absaroka and his ensemble led an Introductionto Chinese Music, and formed part of the Boarders’ Cultural Evening.
Festival week concluded with engaging sessions of beat-boxing and contemporary singing. Tommy Ludgate and Kelly Fraser led a large group of pupils to perfect a performance of ‘Rather Be’ by Clean Bandit.
| A Gallery of Photos: from Berkhamsted Music Festival | Weblink |
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