Music holds a special place at Leweston and it permeates all aspects of school life. The Music department offers a specialist music education to every student providing an excellent foundation in academic music through to University or Music Conservatoire level.
Individual Music & Voice Lessons
An exceptional team of visiting musicians give instrumental tuition in voice, piano and organ, woodwind, strings, brass and percussion. The department has an outstanding record in the Associated Board and Trinity College examinations up to diploma level, with pupils going on to study at conservatoires such as the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall, as well as the top university music departments such as Kings College, London and Royal Holloway.
Bands, Ensembles & Orchestras
Leweston offers many high-profile performance opportunities, both inside and outside of school. There are a number of instrumental ensembles including string ensembles, Baroque Group, Flute Group, Recorder Consort, Worship Band and Jazz Band. All ensembles perform regularly in concerts and assemblies.
Choral Music
Over the past thirty years Leweston has built a particular reputation for sacred choral music. All pupils in Years 7 and 8 sing in the award-winning junior choir, Cantemus. Pupils in Year 9 and above can audition for a place in the prestigious Schola Cantorum. Schola sings at the School’s weekly Mass, as part of the Sherborne Abbey Festival, at school concerts, and is often asked to sing at weddings, concerts and other services nationally and abroad. In addition, there a number of other choirs in the School, including the Sixth-Form Choir, and the ‘Show Choir’.
Choral Society
The Leweston Choral Society is an SATB choir which brings together students, staff, parents and members of the local community. The Choral Society rehearses on a Wednesday evening from October to March and performs a major choral work with professional orchestra and soloists on a bi-annual basis, with a smaller-scale concert in March of the interim year. Recent performances include Alexander L’Estrange’s ‘Zimbe!’, Mozart’s ‘Requiem’, Duke Ellington’s ‘Sacred Concert’, and Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’.
For more information and to join, please contact our Director of Music, Dr Rachel Milestone MilestoneR@leweston.dorset.sch.uk
Musical Theatre
Theatre is also a major part of the musical life of Leweston. The musical productions are popular with pupils and are of incalculable educational value. They offer cross-curricular opportunities including drama, technical theatre, costume and stage design, as well as the obvious social benefits. The last three senior musicals have been ‘Matilda’, ‘9 to 5’ and ‘Mary Poppins’.
Academic Music
All pupils in Years 7 to 9 have music lessons as part of the curriculum. These are designed to be an interesting and fun introduction to music. Music is available at both GCSE and A Level.
Music Scholarships
Leweston offers music scholarships at Year 7 and Year 9 entry. At both stages candidates will be assessed on their achievement to date as well as their potential for the future. Scholars have the opportunity to perform regularly both as members of musical groups and as soloists. They also attend music trips and benefit from specialist individual instrumental teaching and masterclasses from high-class professional musicians. For more information visit our Scholarships page.
The Leweston Learner
From Nursery to Sixth Form Leweston shares an educational approach that helps our pupils develop an attitude to learning they can apply across the curriculum, as well as in the wider world. Click on the five key characteristics to find out more.
