Music

Dean Close is proud of its reputation for musical excellence and opportunities for all.

The Music School is characterised by its warm, open and purposeful atmosphere and offers a huge plethora of performing opportunities for both beginners and experienced musicians.

At Dean Close, every pupil will be involved in a musical performance of some sort during their time at School. For many, music is an essential part of daily life and pupils regularly continue to Music Conservatoires and degree courses, to Oxbridge as Choral or Instrumental Scholars, or just as keen amateurs.

The Music School

Our modern, purpose-built Music School is beautifully designed and accommodates our hi-tech recording studio, large concert hall, specialist classrooms equipped with Cubase and Sibelius composition software, superb practice rooms, a well-resourced library and an extensive collection of instruments for hire.

All pupils in Year 9, within their timetabled academic lessons, explore the fundamentals of musical composition, performance and analysis through practical topics including fanfare, ground bass, jazz, film music and the elements of music. Pupils taking Music at GCSE and A Level follow the Edexcel Music specification.

Co-curricular Music

Over 200 individual music lessons take place each week and pupils can learn any orchestral instrument, electric guitar or bass, drum kit or have individual singing or music technology lessons. We have an experienced team of 25 dedicated instrumental teachers; most pupils are prepared for music exams and the department boasts extremely good results in both Associated Board and Trinity examinations.

We are fortunate to have the world-renowned Carducci Quartet leading the Dean Close Strings Department, teaching individual lessons and weekly coaching ensembles.

Our inspiring, diverse musical activities include:

Brass Group	Concert Band	Rock & Pop Groups
Chamber Choir	Instrumental Ensembles	String Quartets
Chapel Choir	Jazz Band	Music Theory Groups
Choral Society	Sinfonia
Close Harmony	Symphony Orchestra

With approximately 50 - 60 concerts, music trips and workshops each year, ranging from informal lunchtime recitals and a concert series for post Grade 8 musicians to major choral and orchestral events, there are many opportunities for solo and ensemble performances for pupils of all abilities.

Music Scholarships are offered for entry at 13+ and Sixth Form and our Girling Scholarship is a dedicated Award for Sixth Form Organists.

Music Lessons

With a team of 25 dedicated visiting music teachers, our pupils may opt for one-to-one tuition in almost every instrument and style, helping to build skills that will enrich lives and potentially fuel a desire for a future career in music. Lessons last 40 minutes and are timetabled on rotation throughout the School day.

We currently offer one-to-one lessons in:

Strings: Cello, Double Bass, Violin, Viola
Woodwind: Bassoon, Clarinet, Flute, Oboe, Saxophone
Brass: Euphonium, French Horn, Trombone, Trumpet and Tuba
Guitar: Classical and Electric, Electric Bass
Keyboard: Classical and Jazz Piano, Organ
Music Technology / Music Theory
Percussion & drum kit
Voice: both popular and classical.

Instrumental and vocal masterclasses are held throughout the year and pupils are able to perform at our regular lunchtime concerts.

Choirs

Director of Choral Music: Simon Bell

Pupils benefit from regular choral ensembles: Chapel Choir, Chamber Choir, Choral Society, Dean Close Harmony, Dean Close Voices, annual House Singing and Music Competitions.

Singing is at the heart of music making at Dean Close and this comes from our tradition of strong hymn singing in Chapel services, held three times a week.

We have a variety of choirs within the School, ranging from the auditioned Chapel Choir through to Choral Society and Dean Close Voices, in which all are welcome to participate.

Chapel Choir

Approximately 55 auditioned members
Leads the music for School Chapel services
Sings Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral and Tewkesbury Abbey annually
Regular concert performances alongside Dean Close Choral Society of major choral works, recent works include Handel Messiah, Faure Requiem, Puccini Messa di Gloria and Alexander L’Estrange Zimbe!
The School commissions a Christmas Carol each year from a leading composer
Former pupils have gone on to hold Choral Scholarships at Oxford and Cambridge Universities

Chamber Choir

20-voice choir providing an opportunity for extension for the most experienced singers in the School
Annual concert performances of sacred and secular repertoire at Dean Close and various local churches
Regular trips to sing Evensong in Oxbridge Colleges

Choral Society

Comprising pupils, staff, parents and friends of the School
One performance of a major work each year, usually in the Lent Term, in the Pittville Pump Room, Tewkesbury Abbey or Dean Close Memorial Chapel.

Dean Close Harmony

A cappella group of up to 16 experienced singers
Diverse range of repertoire
Performs both in and out of School

Dean Close Voices

Non-auditioned choir for younger singers
Focus on popular music, jazz and music theatre

Instrumental and Chamber Music

Head of Brass: Hannah Opstad, MA, BMus, LRAM

Head of Strings: The Carducci Quartet

Over 25 musical ensembles rehearse every week of term in the Music Department, affording opportunities for both beginners and advanced musicians.

These include:

Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia and Ripieno Strings (advanced & developing players)
Concert Band for wind and brass players
Brass Group
Flute Ensemble
Jazz Big Band
Junior Jazz

The Carducci Quartet

The Carducci Quartet are recognised as one of today’s most exciting string quartets and have been Head of Strings at Dean Close since January 2011. This partnership has proved to be incredibly successful and advantageous for our string players, chamber music and orchestral groups. The members of the Quartet all teach weekly instrumental lessons across our three schools, coach chamber music groups and take orchestral sectionals. As well as giving regular performances at Dean Close, the Carducci are also on hand to perform A Level set works and student compositions.

The Carducci Quartet is passionate about taking music to the next generation and encourages pupils to develop a love of music through playing a string instrument, inspiring existing string players with additional coaching and masterclasses. String players compete each year for the Strings Cup and have reached the finals of the Pro Corda National Chamber Music Festival for Schools on several occasions.

Concerts

Our Music Department provides unparalleled opportunities for performance, ranging from informal lunchtime recitals to large-scale concerts. All are encouraged to perform, whatever standard they reach.

Major Termly Concerts in Pittville Pump Room, Tewkesbury Abbey and the Bacon Theatre
New Pupils’ Recital
Fridays@6 Diploma Recital Series
Junior and Senior Music Scholar Recitals
A Celebration of Music across Dean Close
Lunchtime Recitals at Chapel Arts, Cheltenham
Lunchtime and evening recitals
Half Term Concerts
Acoustic Night (for aspiring pop singers and songwriters)
RocSoc Concert (for aspiring rock and pop bands)
Jazz Band Evening
Bi-annual School Musical in collaboration with our Drama Department
Leavers’ Concert
Regular workshops with visiting professional musicians
Regular concert trips

Musical Outreach

The Department regularly hosts musical outreach events for pupils and for local schools.

Since 2020, we have organised community workshops led by international vocal group Voces 8, The English Chamber Orchestra, The Carducci Quartet and film and media composer Oscar Osicki. The Department hosts annual instrumental outreach workshop days for pupils from local primary and prep schools, including a Strings Day, led by the Carducci Quartet, and a Wind and Brass Day, led by Hannah Opstad (Head of Brass at Dean Close).

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