A Musical Term

This term has seen an incredible Spring Music Festival and, in particular, an outstanding KES Gala Concert. Performed in Bath’s largest venue, The Forum, on Wednesday 20th March, it was not only an outstanding success, but without doubt our most ambitious and diverse KES Music performance yet. 

There were nearly 300 performers on stage, incorporating: 

• ONE KES Community Choir (parents, staff, OEs and friends of KES)
• TWO orchestras, (KES Senior Orchestra and Bath Philharmonia) 
• THREE top KES pupil concerto soloists accompanied by Bath Phil
•  FOUR KES pupil choirs (including 2 Senior and both Junior School choirs) 
• The KES Soul funk band performing the latest exciting creation by our resident composer, Mark Boden 
• The KES Baroque Group (string chamber orchestra), KES Percussion Ensemble, numerous vocal and orchestral pupil soloists and three bespoke stage bands! 

Our repertoire celebrated musical diversity and our planet. Featuring seven female composers alongside other epic film and symphonic masters such as Hans Zimmer and Antonin Dvořák, the repertoire encompassed a huge range of musical, cultural and stylistic pieces, closing in sensational style with a new, music industry agreed, professional arrangement for lead vocalist, chorus and orchestra for Lady Gaga’s Born This Way!  

Everyone who was there agreed that it was a superb showcase for KES Music, and for our enduring partnership with Bath Philharmonia.  After three years of planning, we certainly reached a new musical summit in fine style!

Earlier in the term our annual showcase for our top soloists in the Holburne Museum Concert (6th February) was yet another, ‘best ever’ and witnessed yet another step up in all of the musicians’ already impressive technical abilities and performance etiquette skills. These performances in one of Bath’s most inspiring venues was complemented by three of our KES ensembles performing with outstanding confidence and skill at this year’s Mid-Somerset Festival competition, winning many accolades and complimentary feedback from audiences and adjudicators alike.  

This term, KES also proudly sponsored Bath Philharmonia’s fantastic concert with international violin virtuoso, Nicola Benedetti (16th January), and many members of our KES Senior Orchestra were lucky enough to watch their rehearsal together and to meet and chat with Nicola between this and the evening concert. Inspirational KES Music opportunities were also provided by a GCSE and A-level Music trip (29th February) to Oxford University to visit the Music faculty, to see the fascinating ‘Bate Instrumental Collection’, and witness a Haydn symphonic set work being professionally performed in concert at the famous Sheldonian Theatre. To off round the Spring Term, 30 KES Music and KES CCF musicians enjoyed an amazing set of practical masterclasses and instruction with the Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines in their home base of Portsmouth (28th March).     

Rupert Drury, Director of Music

Flickr album: KES Gala Concert with Bath Philharmonia | Height: auto | Theme: Default | Skin: Default Skin