Music Scholarships

Music Scholarships

Music Scholarships

A thriving music department is at the heart of any successful school. Ampleforth epitomises this with our exceptional music scholars taking centre stage. They are the torchbearers for the high standards and commitment that enable us to produce music of the highest calibre in the concert hall, on tours, and twice a week in the Abbey church. Our primary aim is for all our students to leave Ampleforth with a life-long love of music whether that grew out of singing hymns at Sunday Mass or performing in a musical, playing a concerto or being part of a student band.

Edward Seymour Director of Music

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Music at Ampleforth Music is a large and busy department with extensive facilities split over two buildings. The Old Music School is given over almost entirely to keyboard tuition and houses over a dozen high quality pianos, a two-manual harpsichord, and two pipe organs, as well as the rehearsal room for the College Schola (choir). The New Music School accommodates all other instrumental, vocal, and academic music teaching. There are 25 teaching rooms and two large performance halls.

Over 200 individual music lesson are taught each week by our Visiting Music Teachers. They travel from all over the UK to teach at Ampleforth and many balance this with work in the UK’s leading orchestras and music colleges. A broad range of instruments and styles are offered so we can draw in all musicians. There are many opportunities to share music and play in groups as well as perform in public. The College Orchestra and Pro Musica offer a wide range of classical programmes for full orchestra and chamber ensembles, whilst the Big Band, Flute, Brass, and Saxophone Ensembles offer a mixed programme of jazz, pop and classical styles. We regularly host concerts as well as staging a major instrumental concert each term.

Choral music is of an extremely high standard and the College Schola maintains a demanding schedule of services and meditations throughout the year. They sing two Masses each week in the Abbey and annual performances of Messiah and Faure’s Requiem, as well as tours and Carol services in London and Edinburgh. Over its fifty-year history, the Schola has acquired a significant and impressive array of commissioned masses and motets from some of the most notable composers of the late 20th and early 21st century.

We want students to own their music making and we ensure the facilities and expertise are on offer to help them fulfil their own projects. Student bands are numerous and very popular and together they put on an annual SHAC ROCK performance to raise money for the College’s nominated charities.

Central to College life are the occasions where the whole community come together for Assembly or Mass and lift their voices in song. No one leaves Ampleforth having not been involved in music in some way and touched by this experience.

“I really enjoyed being a music scholar and all the opportunities that it brought and felt that i was making huge personal progress.”

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Scholarship Programme • Free individual tuition in chosen discipline (all disciplines for Senior Scholars in Sixth Form) • Bespoke programme of rehearsals and tutorials in relevant ensembles • Personal Scholarship Mentor to monitor and support progress • One to one practice support • Opportunities for concerto roles • Masterclasses given by some of the finest musicians in the country • Free attendance at concerts throughout the year • External concerts as both participants and audience • Tours • Support and help with preparation for applications for the next developmental stage of Scholarships and/or for competitive higher education institutions • Access to support and careers guidance from a wide network of alumni and staff in the relevant field • Regular music scholar socials Could you become a music scholar?

In all cases we look for interest and potential. No music scholars come as the ‘finished article’ and we aim to identify and nurture passion and skill. The individual tuition, personal mentoring, and many opportunities on offer, enable our music scholars to go from excellent to outstanding.

Throughout the year the Director of Music welcomes anyone interested in a scholarship to come to Ampleforth for an informal audition where they will be given personal feedback and advice on further preparations for their scholarship audition.

Could you become a Music Scholar?

11+ Development Award

13+ Basil Hume Scholarship

Candidates should be at least Grade 3 standard and choristers may choose to demonstrate vocal ability. Recipients who play one instrument are encouraged to take up an additional instrument during Years 7 and 8. All Year 7 pupils are given one term of free instrumental tuition to allow them to try out new instruments.

Basil Hume Music scholarships are available for talented musicians who play an instrument or sing to a standard of ABRSM Grade 5.

Assessment for the award takes place at the end of January and involves an interview and audition. The audition comprises:

• Two contrasting pieces on instrument/ voice • Sight reading and technical exercises • Aural tests

• Two contrasting pieces on instrument • Sight reading and technical exercises • Aural tests

Assessment for the scholarship takes place at the end of January and involves an interview and audition. The audition comprises:

16+ Senior Scholarship Senior Music Scholarships - Instrumental and Choral - are available for exceptional and gifted musicians. Candidates should be a minimum of ABRSM Grade 7 on first study and Grade 3 on second study for instrumentalists, or Grade 7 or equivalent in singing, with strong sight-reading.

Assessment for the scholarship takes place at the end of January and involves an interview and audition. The audition comprises: Instrumental: • Two contrasting pieces on instrument • Sight reading and technical exercises • Aural tests Choral: • Two contrasting pieces for voice • Sight singing • Aural tests

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Every year we run a series of events for families to learn more about scholarships and development awards as well as taster days for students.

Please contact Admissions to find out more: admissions@ampleforth.org.uk.

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Expectations of our Scholars Scholars are expected to demonstrate a high standard of musicianship and show exemplary commitment to their bespoke programme of practice and performance as outlined by the Director of Music. Senior Scholars are expected to be role models and active leaders to younger musicians in the College and elsewhere. They will be called upon regularly to demonstrate the excellent calibre of music at Ampleforth both within the College and on external visits and tours. They should also maintain a record of all their achievements and progress as Music Scholars.

Music Scholar Alumni Many of our music scholars have been awarded scholarships at prestigious universities and music colleges including most recently The Queen’s College, Oxford (Choral award) and King’s College and Jesus College, Cambridge (Organ Scholarship). Many have gone on to pursue careers as musicians. Former music scholars have had compositions commissioned and premiered by BBC Radio 3, are singing and playing professionally in UK choirs and orchestras, and hold positions within the recording and broadcasting industries.

Our Head of Keyboard, Mr Dore, was Ampleforth’s first Music Scholar. He studied Music at Oxford University and held various organist posts in English Cathedrals before becoming a teacher. He remains in demand as a recitalist and as an authority on plainsong.

Bursaries

“The help that was available in preparing for exams or concerts was fantastic.”

Those in need of financial support, are encouraged to apply for means-tested bursaries.

The award of a scholarship is a very strong indication of a student who is likely to flourish at Ampleforth and can be extremely helpful in supporting a bursary application.

For further information about Music Scholarships, please contact Edward Seymour, Director of Music: eos@ampleforth.org.uk

For general information about scholarships or the assessment process, please contact the Admissions Office: admissions@ampleforth.org.uk or 01439 766863 8 | AMPLEFORTH COLLEGE

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An Ampleforth education is a compass for life

Co-educational Catholic boarding and day school for pupils aged 11 to 19

Ampleforth College, York, YO62 4ER 01439 766863 admissions@ampleforth.org.uk

www.ampleforth.org.uk/college