Guildford County School

Education Business Award for Music Department

The Music Department hit a high note recently, scooping a national award for music.

Our Director of Music, Caroline Gale, was presented with the 2007 EB School Music Award by the actor Todd Carty at a ceremony in London attended by representatives of more than 40 short listed schools.
 
The Education Business awards recognise how the dedication of teaching and management staff, coupled with sound investment, have delivered better learning.
Judges at the award ceremony sang the praises of the Music Department at GCS for its dedication to promoting the take-up of music throughout the local community. They said, ‘GCS works alongside primary school staff to increase enthusiasm and interest in music teaching.’ They also mentioned the inspirational work of the boys choir, which now numbers 130 students, dispelling the myth that ‘boys don’t sing’.
 
Peter Costello praised the work of everyone involved with music at GCS and stated that ‘Music College status has certainly helped promote a positive the ethos throughout the school’.
 

House Music 2007

House Music 2007 brought a celebratory end to the academic year on Tuesday 10th July, as the entire school participated in the annual music competition! This year’s competition was adjudicated by the Principal Flautist of the London Symphony Orchestra, Gareth Davies. As a former County pupil who is currently working in the music industry recording film soundtracks, such as Harry Potter and Star Wars, with the LSO, students found his praising and critical judgement was both inspiring and valuable.

 

The winner of House Music 2007 was York House with their varied programme and range of styles and musical items. The contest consisted of each of the six houses performing a programme of four contrasting items, including their own arrangements of ‘I can see clearly now’ as this year’s House song. The staff choir and band even performed their rendition of the tune! There were a number of commendation awards including Tudor House Gospel Choir’s ‘Shackle’, Lancaster’s ‘Feelin’ Good’, and York House’s ‘Hey Ya’. Harry Giles was awarded the Music Department Commendation. The Larson Award for Singing went to Jack Nichole.

 

Peter Leighton in Year 7 received the Classical Performance Award, while Jasmine Hart, also in Year 7 received a Special Commendation for her solo in the House Song! Prizes were also awarded for the best programmes, which went to York House, despite the homemade cake from Stuart House!

 

Commended students from the competition were invited to perform at an evening concert later that same day, as a celebration to share the talents and achievements of students, to parents and friends of the school. Mrs Gale, Director of Music, commented on how well the sixth form worked to put together their House concerts in such a short timescale and praised the school for being such a fantastic audience! Bring on 2008!

 

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