Music

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. Our more able musicians have the opportunity to audition for the Joint Schools’ Symphony Orchestra (Grade 6+) and Sinfonia (Grade 3+), who rehearse weekly and give at least two large concerts every year. The Symphony Orchestra performs in one major venue each year such as St John’s Smith Square, St George’s Bristol and Oxford Town Hall.

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.