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Music at
The King's School Canterbury
"The arts are stupendously good, showed off magnificently at the
school's famous arts festival, King's Week."
Tatler Magazine
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The King's School, Canterbury is renowned worldwide for the quality of its Music and the breadth of opportunity and facilities ensures that musicians of all abilities enjoy an enriching and memorable musical journey. Across the widest range of genres, there is an incredible amount going on in the music department at King's, where a staff of 52 academic, instrumental and singing teachers deliver 650 music lessons per week.
Our revolutionary scheme, Sounding Out, also provides free instrumental lessons to children in primary schools in the city of Canterbury, as we work to reverse the cuts in arts education funding in the state educational sector.
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Found out more in our film all about music at King's
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Introducing SOUNDING OUT!
Our revolutionary scheme to provide free instrumental tuition to children
at state primary schools in the city of Canterbury. Read more ...
Facilities
The Edred Wright Music School occupies the former Grange House, built in 1900 and converted to a magnificent facility in 2009. Offering a wide range of facilities, in a setting that perfectly befits our architectural and spiritual environment, the building is bursting with music from every corner.
Performance spaces range from the magnificent Canterbury Cathedral to the school's own 820 seat concert hall, as well as three recital rooms, all with Steinway pianos. Academic spaces include 3 classrooms and 2 Mac based technology suites, while the basement houses our industry standard recording studio.
The Music School is named after Edred Wright, Director of Music from 1958 – 79 and widely recognised for bringing The King’s School to the forefront of musical education.
Pictured: The Edred Wright Music School, The King's School Canterbury
Musical Opportunities
CHORAL
King's is renowned worldwide for the quality of singing at the school and nine choirs and vocal ensembles rehearse each week across the widest range of ability and style. A school choir will sing for a service in Canterbury Cathedral on most Sundays in term time.
ORCHESTRAL
A broad and encompassing range of instrumental and symphonic ensembles are available at King's, including three orchestras, a concert band, brass ensemble and a large number of chamber ensembles.
JAZZ
Jazz enjoys lively prominence at King's, with a full scale big band and a number of coached and pupil-led jazz groups rehearsing and performing regularly.
ROCK & POP
Many rock and pop bands rehearse weekly in our industry standard recording studio and a number of former pupils have gone on to enjoy flourishing careers in the popular music industry.
Music Awards
A wide range of awards are offered at 13+ and 16+ to outstanding musicians who wish to study at King’s, including Music Scholarships, Music Exhibitions and Choral Exhibitions. Typically there will be approximately 60 music award holders in the school at any one time and further details of these awards can be found on the school website Music Scholarships and Awards page. Candidates for such awards come from all over the UK and even abroad and the competition is inevitably very strong. Prospective pupils and their parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to visit the school and attend an informal pre-audition with the Director of Music, at least two years prior to entry, in order to assess potential for award. Contact Mrs Jenny McLeod in the Music Office to arrange meetings and pre-auditions by telephoning +44 (0) 1227 595556 or emailing
Music Staff
WILL BERSEY
Director of Music
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NICK TODD
Assistant Director of Music
Head of Singing
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STEPHEN MATTHEWS
Head of Academic Music
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GREG SWINFORD
Academic Music, Singing
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KEVIN ABBOTT
Head of Wind and Brass
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ALEXANDRA CALDON
Head of Srings
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NICK PARVIN
Music Technology, Guitar
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JENNY McLEOD
Music Administrator
Keyboard:
Adrian Bawtree – Organ
Alex Bennett - Piano
Philip Harmer – Piano
Julian Lambert – Piano
Stephen Matthews – Piano
David Newsholme – Organ
David Rees-Williams – Piano
Neil Roxburgh – Piano
Neil Wright – Piano
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Percussion:
Joost Hendrickx - Drumkit
Chris Nall - Drumkit & Percussion
Dave White - Drumkit
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Charlie Stinchcombe -
Music Assistant
Strings:
Rosemary Banks-Francis - Cello
Sophie Barrett-Roper – Double Bass
Vanessa Campion – Violin/Viola
Stephen Clee – Guitar
Damon Flanagan – Violin/Viola
Mary Morley – Harp
Nick Parvin – Guitar
Andrew Pollock – Violin/Viola
Malcolm Rogers – Guitar
Kathy Shave – Violin
Julia Vohralik – Cello
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Wind & Brass:
Kevin Abbott – French Horn
Diana Bailey – Saxophone
Alex Calden – Trumpet
Alex Callanan – Bassoon
Michael Coates – Saxophone
Ian Crowther – Oboe
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Felicity Goodsir - Flute
Martin Gove - Trumpet
Philip Harmer – Oboe
Debbie Porro - Recorder
Rosemary Rathbone – Flute
William Slingsby-Duncombe – Clarinet
Sarah Thurlow – Clarinet
Colin Welch – Saxophone
Susan White – Trombone/Tuba
Emily Wiggins - French Horn
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Singing:
Michelle Harris - Singing
David Hitchen – Singing
Holly-Anne Lloyd – Singing
Ben McKee – Singing
Juliet Schiemann – Singing
Philip Spendley - Singing
Nicholas Todd – Singing
Tabby Webb – Singing
CONTACT
The Eded Wright Music School
The King's School
Canterbury
CT1 2ES
+44 (0) 1227 595556
