EXCELLENCE IN

MUSIC

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Music is at the heart of the Royal Hospital School, with outstanding facilities including a concert hall, recital and practice rooms, live rock rooms, a vocal booth, and a cathedral-sized chapel.

Each week, over 350 one-to-one lessons take place alongside 19 choirs and bands, giving more than 400 pupils countless opportunities to learn, perform, and grow as musicians in ensembles ranging from orchestra and chapel choirs to concert bands, big bands, and rock and pop groups.

MUSIC

FACILITIES

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Purpose-built Reade Music School.

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Approximately 350 one-to-one music lessons take place each week.

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A range of specialist visiting music teachers available.

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Many performance opportunities available to pupils of all musical levels.

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On-site performance spaces such as Burns Recital Hall, Chapel, and our newly renovated professional-grade theatre, Greenwich Hall.

MUSIC

CURRICULUM

Music at RHS is vibrant and inclusive, offering pupils opportunities to develop their skills, creativity and confidence at every stage.

YEARS

7, 8 AND 9

The music curriculum in Years 7 and 8 focuses on developing pupils’ skills in performing, composing, listening, and analysing music, building a strong foundation in practical musicianship and musical understanding. In Year 9, pupils continue to develop these core skills while also being introduced to music technology, taught through a once-fortnightly lesson, and to evaluative writing about music, encouraging them to reflect critically on musical works and their own creative processes.

Royal Hospital School Music Scholar Performs

MUSIC AT

GCSE

Pupils build on their earlier experience of creating music by developing two composition projects, which can range from popular songs and dance tracks to classical or world music, allowing each student to tailor their work to their individual interests and strengths. Listening skills are further honed through the study of set pieces from contrasting musical styles, deepening their understanding of musical contexts. The course also encourages pupils to perform music of their own choosing, both as soloists and in ensembles, with the requirement that students offer at least one instrument or voice at Grade 3 level or above.

A pupil is playing a violin, her eyes closed in concentration, against a dark background.

MUSIC AT

SIXTH FORM

At A Level, Music advances pupils’ performance, composition, listening, and analytical skills across six diverse areas: vocal, instrumental, film, jazz, fusions, and new directions. The course fosters creativity, teamwork, and confidence, while also developing essay-writing skills, supporting both academic achievement and personal growth.

STATE-OF-THE-ART

MUSIC SCHOOL

Our purpose-built Reade Music School offers outstanding facilities for learning and performance, including The Burns Recital Hall, a 250-seat concert venue with a Bechstein and a rare Fazioli grand piano, plus full orchestral percussion. Other facilities include:

Three classrooms, including a keyboard laboratory
15 specialist instrumental teaching rooms
Well-stocked department library with a practice pipe organ
Fleet of Bechstein pianos
Two live rock rooms & Vocal booth

PERFORMANCE

SPACES

GREENWICH HALL

Greenwich Hall is our newly renovated theatre, designed and equipped to professional performance standards

BURNS RECITAL HALL

A fully equipped 250-seat concert venue primarily dedicated to music performances, including operatic works.

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.
Read More About The Grand Organ

PERFORMANCE

OPPORTUNITIES

We host a wide range of music events in our performance spaces, including our annual school musical, House Shout, gig nights, band and choir concerts, scholar performances, and Notes and Nibbles.

Reflecting our naval heritage and royal connections, our band and choir perform at prestigious venues such as St Paul’s Cathedral, St Martin-in-the-Fields, and the Royal Albert Hall, take part in high-profile naval services, and embark on exciting international tours to Malta, New York, Washington DC, and Canada.

MUSIC

GROUPS

CHORAL

Pupils have the opportunity to join our Chapel Choir, elite Chamber Choir, and Musical Theatre Group, gaining experience in high-level choral and performance work. With strong links to the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, our most talented singers are actively encouraged to audition.

Royal Hospital School Choir stand outside of the onsite chapel in 2022

BAND

Our 75-strong Marching and Concert Band, with a 200-year history, performs major school events, joint concerts with the Royal Marines School of Music Band, at prestigious venues, and on international tours. It features a student-led Corps of Drums, elite buglers, and a Junior Corps.

Royal Hospital School Marching Band

ENSEMBLES

We offer a diverse range of ensembles, from big band and brass, string, and wind groups to gospel choir, house band, and independent pupil bands, and we actively encourage and support all new pupil-led musical ventures.

Royal Hospital School pupils perform on stage

ORCHESTRAS

We have a strong string section and symphonic brass, woodwind, and percussion, performing repertoire from the Classical, Romantic, and 20th-century periods, and taking part in joint concerts with leading local orchestras to develop ensemble skills and experience high-level orchestral performance.

Royal Hospital School pupils perform on stage with range of musical instruments

EXPERT

TUITION

We are supported by a large and talented team of Visiting Music Teachers, offering specialist tuition for particularly gifted and talented pupils. Our programme is enriched by masterclasses led by professional musicians, providing inspiring learning opportunities that are also open to the wider public.

MUSICAL

PARTNERSHIPS

At RHS, we proudly nurture our role as a vibrant centre of music, inspiring creativity and bringing our community together through exceptional performance and collaboration.

We welcome world-class musician, giving pupils the chance to learn from them. Highlights include Sing Up! Suffolk, inspiring hundreds of local children, our popular Notes & Nibbles recitals, collaborations with the Royal College of Organists, and annual concerts with the Holbrook Choral Society.

"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 School"
Edward Allen, Director of Music

MUSIC

SCHOLARSHIPS

Each year, we award Music Scholarships to pupils who show exceptional potential and passion for music. Prospective candidates are warmly invited to visit the school, meet our Director of Music, and explore the opportunities available to nurture their talent.

Further information can be found here: AWARDS