Music

Music is an important element in Queen Elizabeth’s School’s aim of developing qualities such as confidence, maturity, self-understanding, self-worth and the ability to work effectively with others. The Music Department seeks to give all boys extensive musical opportunities and to enhance their individual understanding of music. We hope this will engender a life-long enjoyment of music in all its varied guises.

In 2004, QE became the first school in London to be granted specialist music college status. Since then the department has grown, with significant improvements for boys at the School, for pupils at our five partner schools and for others in the local area. Our facilities include a recording studio and a music technology suite, where we have 12 Apple Macs running Sibelius, GarageBand, Logic and Logic Express applications, which enable pupils to compose, record audio and midi, and edit digitally.

Of the 180 QE places available at age 11, 20 are offered on musical ability. The musical ability of the candidates is ascertained through an audition process conducted in the January prior to entry into the School.

Music is a highly interactive and involving subject, and is taught at QE at all National Curriculum key stages through the skills of listening, composing and performing. Music Our GCSE course and the Music and Music Technology A Level courses are all popular choices. In addition, large numbers of boys take individual instrumental tuition.

Boys may avail themselves of lunchtime clinics, where staff support the work done in the curriculum. The Music Department has an excellent record for preparing boys for university and a 100% success rate for Oxbridge applicants, some of whom have also won scholarships.

We offer an extensive range of extra-curricular opportunities, including 13 regularly rehearsing ensembles. These range from our Symphony Orchestra, Choir and Big Band to the Saxophone Quartet, String Camerata and World Music Ensemble.

There are also many opportunities away from the School. Recent events have included attending an opera at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, participation in a Bollywood workshop and playing in concerts both in England and abroad.

In addition, many boys take an active part in music outside school, either with Barnet Music Services, or by attending the junior branches of some of the London music colleges, including Guildhall and the Royal Academy.

At any given time there are usually a number of QE boys in national ensembles such as the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, English Schools’ Orchestra and National Children’s Orchestras.

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