MUSIC

A Concert Hall, Recital Rooms, Practice Rooms, Recording Studio, Music Technology Suite and more

The school is well-known for its musical excellence and music is embedded in the school’s wider culture and ethos. The facilities offered through the Music School are outstanding, with a concert hall, recital rooms, practice rooms, recording studio, music technology suite, rock room, live lounge and cathedral-proportioned chapel.

We deliver over 400 one-to-one music lessons each week with everything from singing to the drum kit on offer! Our pupils have a choice of 19 different choirs and bands they can join.

Music at RHS

Music forms part of the Lower School curriculum and is offered as an academic subject at both GCSE and A Level. Over 400 pupils learn to play at least one instrument and there is an orchestra, 80-strong chapel choir, chamber choir, ceremonial marching band, concert band, big band and numerous ensembles, including many rock and pop groups. As a result of the school's unique naval heritage and royal connections, the band and choir have had opportunities to perform with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall, before international rugby matches at Twickenham and at St Paul’s Cathedral and St James’ Palace.

Facilities

The state-of-the-art Music School

The Burns Recital Hall - a fully equipped concert venue seating 250 and housing two new grand pianos: a fine Bechstein and an outstanding Fazioli (one of only 110 made annually) as well as a full selection of orchestral percussion

A purpose-built and fully equipped music technology suite including a fully furnished recording studio
Three classrooms, including a keyboard laboratory• 15 specialist instrumental teaching rooms
Well-stocked department library with a new practice pipe organ
A fleet of new Bechstein pianos

Chapel

Magnificent 1930s chapel, seating well over 1300, with an impressive eight second acoustic
Legendary Grand Organ, a 4-manual Romantic instrument of unrivalled power and a smaller Classical Organ for choral accompaniment

"Music gives a soul to the universe. Wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything."
~ Plato

Choral

Famous Chapel Choir

The dedicated, 80-strong core of the RHS choral tradition
Weekly services in the cathedral-sized school chapel• Four major concerts each year
Annual performances at high-profile naval services in St Paul’s Cathedral and St Martin-in-the-Fields, London
Regular appearances in concert venues such as the Royal Albert Hall
Exciting international tours – recently to Italy, Germany, Malta, and to New York

Musical Theatre Group

Singing, dancing, acting
A chance to perform some of Broadway’s finest hits
Run by industry professionals
The chance to perform in major school concerts
We have strong links with the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain – our most promising singers are actively encouraged to audition

Elite Chamber Choir

20 hand-picked singers, the cream of the RHS vocal crop, performing a wide repertoire of sacred and secular, classical and contemporary works
Frequent concert performances

We have strong links with the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain - our most promising singers are actively encouraged to audition.

"One of the largest and most committed choirs I have ever encountered in a school."
John Rutter, RHS patron of music

Band

Renowned 75-strong marching and concert band, dating back 200 years
Two major annual concerts at school• Joint concerts with the Royal Marines School of Music Band
Performances at prestigious venues and occasions such as the Lord Mayor’s Show, Twickenham Stadium and Lord’s Cricket Ground, and for HM The Queen
Biennial tours, most recently to Sri Lanka, the USA and Canada
Eclectic and challenging repertoire
Vibrant and unique Corps of Drums, entirely student-led, providing drum displays for formal occasions
Elite corps of solo buglers
Junior Corps of Drums

Ensembles

A diverse and ever-growing number of small and large ensembles including but not limited to:

Big band
Brass ensemble
Classical guitar ensemble
Fanfare team
Flute ensemble
Gospel choir
Saxophone ensemble
Intermediate string group
Advanced string group
Rock/Pop workshop
Samba group
Music technology club
Various independent pupil bands

We strongly encourage and give all possible support to any new pupil ventures.

Academic Music

Music forms an important part of the curriculum for Years 7 – 9 with a strong emphasis on practical music making and technology, as well as listening. Music is also offered at GCSE and A Level and pupils are prepared for entry to music college or university with many recent successes.

A large and talented team of Visiting Music Teachers
Over one third of pupils learn a musical instrument or take singing lessons
All are encouraged to participate in the regular senior and junior lunchtime ensembles
Specialist teaching is available for the particularly gifted and talented
There is a yearlong series of academic music lectures and masterclasses given by professional musicians – many leaders in their fields – on topics from Elgar’s orchestration techniques and Bach’s St John Passion to the life of a film composer and the use of computers in new music, all open to the public

Music Technology

Orchestras

partnership

RHS maintains a place at the forefront of music making in the community.

CONCERTS

We welcome many world-leading musicians as part of our annual concert series, creating many opportunities for our pupils and visitors to learn from the best.

SINGING PROJECT

RHS hosts Sing Up! Suffolk, an annual singing day for hundreds of local children - an unforgettable and transformative experience guaranteed to revolutionise and invigorate young people’s attitudes to their own voices.

NOTES & NIBBLES

Highly popular series of lunchtime recitals given by RHS musicians for local audiences, with buffet lunch.

ORGANISTS’ ASSOCIATION OF EAST ANGLIA & RCO

RHS collaborates enthusiastically with the Organists’ Associations and the Royal College of Organists, inviting many visitors to play our superb Grand Organ and hosting recitals and masterclasses with internationally acclaimed performers. We are proud to be the first school accredited by the RCO under its new Institutional Accreditation scheme. It acknowledges the first-rate provision for organ teaching at the school.

HOLBROOK CHORAL SOCIETY

RHS has a longstanding association with the Holbrook Choral Society, a large and dedicated group of singers from Holbrook and further afield that sings two major annual concerts in the chapel. Recent performances have included Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius, Mozart’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah.

THE RICH TRADITION OF OUR MUSIC-MAKING IS SOMETHING WE ARE RIGHTLY PROUD OF. PLEASE FIND THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SEE US IN ACTION AND MEET THE TEAM OF DEDICATED AND TALENTED MUSICIANS THAT WORK AND STUDY HERE. WE ARE CERTAIN THAT YOU WILL BE IMPRESSED BY THE BREADTH OF OUR PROGRAMME AND FEEL CONFIDENT TO ENTRUST THE MUSICAL EDUCATION OF YOUR CHILDREN TO US HERE AT THE ROYAL HOSPITAL SCHOOLEdward Allen, Director of Music

Music Scholarships

Music Scholarships are awarded annually to pupils who demonstrate real potential in their music making. Prospective candidates are encouraged to visit the school informally and meet the Director of Music, from whom further information is available.

MUSIC STAFF AT RHS

We have a talented team of permanent staff and a huge number of specialist visiting music teachers.

Director of Music – Edward Allen

Bandmaster and Teacher of Music – Lizzie Merrell

Assistant Head (Co-curricular) and Teacher of Music - Brian Martineau

School Organist - David Poulter

Administrator – Katy Griffiths

Click here to meet our visiting music teachers

CONTACT US

Admissions: 01473 326136 or admissions@royalhospitalschool.org

Music School: 01473 326222 or music@royalhospitalschool.org

Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 2RX

Twitter @RHS_music

The Royal Hospital School

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