Auditions, concerts and performing before two Cabinet Ministers

As a specialist Music College QE is able to allocate up to 20 Year 7 places on the basis of ability in Music. This term began with 113 new-intake auditions over four days.

Other musical highlights of a busy term included the Year 7 Music Scholarship Competition Evening, with 11 boys delivering an eclectic programme that ranged from Brahms and Vivaldi to works by carnatic music composer Saint Thyegerajah Swami.

The Junior Mid Winter Concert for boys in Years 10 and below provided a showcase for the Junior String Orchestra, the Lower School Choir and the Training Band. Again, the programme was varied, with, for example, the Training Band’s rendition of The Elephant Song from Disney’s Jungle Book juxtaposed with an Indian flute solo, which was in turn preceded by Mozart’s Molto Allegro from Sonata in C Minor.

Later in the term, the School’s String Quartet was invited to perform at an event hosted by Schools Secretary Ed Balls and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson. The event in the splendour of Lancaster House in the West End was held to celebrate the work of the Learning and Skills Council.