Head's Newsletter 15 September 2017.p2hp

many GCSE and A- level students who return after exams to support and say goodbye to Tiffin, including two exceptional violinists: Christopher McDonald and Jim Tse. Long may this

Alongside the choir’s summer concert, the school’s musicians also prepared for the department’s other, traditional events to celebrate the end of the school year. The choir played its central role in Tiffin’s Founders’ Day Service singing, among other works, Vaughan Williams’ ‘Lord thou hast been our refuge’, with the trumpet part played by leaver, Adam Meyer, who will be taking up his scholarship place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2017. Following an intense period of study leave and exams, the school’s instrumental groups also reassembled to perform at ‘Tiffin-in-the-Garden’, the annual outdoor festival of music with food provided by the parents’ association. Performances were given by the Swing Band, Jazz Combo, Orchestra, Brass Band and Wind Band, as well as a variety of chamber groups. This event is also traditionally the platform for the winners of the Year 9 ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition. This year, the standard of performances given by the bands was especially high, reflecting the musical talent of the outgoing Year 9 pupils. As a result, not one, but five winning bands were chosen to perform, many presenting very creative and original work. Many of the performances, including the orchestra’s fourth movement from Dvorak Symphony 8, would not have been possible without the dedication of the

tradition continue. The event was also our opportunity to say goodbye to members of staff: Patrick Taggart (Visiting Flute Teacher) and Rebecca Bevan (Music Administrator). Many of the opportunities written about here would simply not be possible today without Rebecca’s tireless dedication to Tiffin over many years. Just one day earlier, Tiffin musicians spent their day at the Rose Theatre. Here the Tiffin Boys’ Choir, Oratorio Choir, Children’s Chorus and chamber instrumentalists participated in a performance entitled ‘Sea Stories’. Directed by Jeremy James Taylor, the show included Britten’s Golden Vanity, performed by the Tiffin Boys’ Choir, Roxanna Panufnik’s Upside Down Sailor, performed by school instrumentalists alongside actors and musicians from the Royal College of Music, and Sinbad the Sailor, written by former Director of Music David Nield and performed by Kingston Children, including Oratorio and Children’s Chorus members. Performing these dramatic pieces in a space like the Rose Theatre was particularly rewarding and, after squeezing the dress rehearsals into just one morning, the pupils gave excellent matinee and evening performances, for which there was a royal audience, followed by an opportunity to meet and receive thanks from the royal guests.