Music Matters 2022

IBSTOCK PLACE SENIOR SCHOOL MUSIC MATTERS

Photo by Nigel Luckhurst

THE BERKELEY ENSEMBLE The Berkeley Ensemble has been the Ensemble in Residence at Ibstock Place School since 2014. Hailed as ‘an instinctive collective’ (The Strad) the group was formed with the aim of exploring less familiar twentieth- and twenty first-century British chamber music alongside more established repertoire. The ensemble now enjoys a busy concert schedule performing throughout the UK and abroad, and is also much in demand for its inspiring work in education. Pupils benefit enormously from the expertise of these acclaimed professional musicians through regular masterclasses, workshops, coaching and performance opportunities. Every pupil studying (I)GCSE Music has a composition recorded by the group, offering a unique and inspiring opportunity to lift these young musicians’ music from the page to the stage.

All pupils joining the Senior School are encouraged to learn a musical instrument because music plays such a vital role in the life of IPS.

is through making ‘music’ a verb; singing is quite literally the cantus firmus of the IPS Music programme. Every pupil studies an academically demanding curriculum across a broad range of styles. Pupils are able to analyse musical scores, harmonise melodies, compose in a variety of genres from fanfares to blues, perform at the keyboard and explore music technology through songwriting and remixing. (I)GCSE and A Level Music are popular examination courses, leading to university, college and conservatoire entrance. IPS pupils have, in recent years, taken up places in the National Children’s Orchestra, the London Schools’ Symphony Orchestra, the National Youth Jazz Collective, the National Youth Choir, and the National Youth Music Theatre.

The Faculty provides a wide range of opportunities to allow every pupil, regardless of age or ability, to discover and nurture her or his musical niche. Our facilities are excellent. We have a wealth of musical instruments for use by our pupils, a suite of dedicated practice rooms, a Music Technology Studio with composition and recording facilities and beautiful concert spaces including a state-of-the-art Theatre. Several hundred pupils take co- curricular lessons across the whole gamut of instruments with ample provision throughout classical and contemporary spheres. Pupils are entered for ABRSM and Trinity examinations termly and achieve stellar results. We believe that the best way to learn, experience and enjoy Music

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VISITS

Over recent years, the School choir has enjoyed tours to Malta (2022), St Davids (2021), Prague (2019), Vienna (2018), Brussels (2017), Venice (2016), Washington DC (2015), Paris (2014), New York (2013), Rome (2011) and Barcelona (2010). The choir also regularly sings services at Oxford and Cambridge chapels and London Cathedrals including Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral. Schola Cantorum, the School’s top choir, undertakes a busy schedule of performing and recording, from concerts and services as part of the Barnes Music Festival, to collaborations with top-class professionals, and singing for a new film score recording. Upcoming plans include a recording of Christmas music. Our musicians frequently venture out into the community, running workshops at local schools and performing in hospitals and nursing homes. IPS Music Scholars enjoy regular workshops with the Berkeley Ensemble and trips to London’s top venues. IPS Jazz ensembles have an annual gig at the Bull’s Head in Barnes, one of the country’s iconic jazz venues.

© Brian Jeffery Beggerly (CC)

St Vitus Cathedral, Prague

ENSEMBLES The Music Faculty encourages all pupils to thrive in their music-making and cultivates musical ability at all levels. We offer time for pupils to practise, have inspirational Visiting Music Teachers and provide a variety of performance opportunities. Our flagship group, the IPS Singers, is some 150-strong. From choirs to orchestras, from string quartets to brass ensembles, from jazz bands to rock groups, we are constantly reviewing our repertoire to challenge and inspire pupils who are involved in our ensembles.

Co-curricular musical activities offered at IPS include:

• Aural Clubs • Big Band • Brass Ensemble • Boys’ choir

• Lower Senior Clarinet Ensemble • Lower Senior Jazz Choir • Music Theory Club • Percussion Ensemble • Rock Bands at all levels of the School • Saxophone Ensemble • Schola Cantorum • Senior 7 Choir

• Clarinet Ensemble • Composition Club • Flute Ensembles • Guitar Ensembles • The Ibstones (close harmony group)

• String Orchestra • String Quartets

• IPS Singers • Jazz Bands

MEET THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC Mr James Bartlett read music at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, where he held a choral scholarship and sang with Sidney Sussex College Choir and King’s College Choir. Originally from Pembrokeshire, he held a Junior Choral Scholarship at St Davids Cathedral alongside his time at Sir Thomas Picton School in Haverfordwest.

MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP The Faculty boasts a stimulating Music Scholarship programme where each scholar benefits from bespoke support and mentoring from the Director of Music. The scholars also have the opportunity to perform a solo with the Berkeley Ensemble. These performances demonstrate the versatility of the department with contributions ranging from concerto movements to equally virtuosic displays in contemporary music. Much individual support is given to the Scholars and they are guided to balance their time carefully in view of the proliferation of activities in which they are involved. From the outset, the role, expectations and responsibilities of the privilege of being a Music Scholar are made very clear. Scholars should be able to demonstrate leadership, inspire others perhaps less gifted than themselves, and be especially organised in the management of instrumental lessons, attendance at rehearsals and practising. They must show commitment to both musical and academic studies and above all, be a fine ambassador for the Music Faculty throughout the School community and in public performance situations. Progress and Scholarship status is reviewed by the Director of Music in the form of two annual assessments after which a detailed report is made available to parents, Principal Study teacher, Tutors, the pupil’s Head of House and the Head. Weekly feedback forms from instrumental teachers are also returned to the Director of Music to help monitor progress. Prospective applicants are encouraged to be in touch to arrange an informal ‘pre-audition’. If you would like further information about Music Scholarships or any other matter relating to the School of Music, please contact Mr James Bartlett, Director of Music.

Mr Bartlett maintains a busy portfolio of professional singing work with a variety of choirs in London and as a soloist all over the country. A prize-winning pianist, Mr Bartlett has performed at the Royal Albert Hall and on BBC Radio Wales, and performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto no.27 and Beethoven’s ‘Emperor’ Concerto as part of the St Davids Cathedral summer concert series. He

is a musical director of the National Youth Music Theatre, and has delivered close harmony workshops to Eton Choral Courses and the National Youth Choir of Great Britain as well as working as a tutor on Junior Choral Courses. Academic interests include opera and musical theatre, the notational conventions and peculiarities of 1470s Brussels, and the ethical and legal issues surrounding early hip-hop! Mr Bartlett previously taught at Marlborough College.

IBSTOCK PLACE SCHOOL CLARENCE LANE LONDON SW15 5PY

Tel: 020 8876 9991 www.ibstockplaceschool.co.uk email: registrar@ibstockplaceschool.co.uk