Music, Drama and News Quiz

News Quiz Victors

Year 11 Tutor Group, UJM, wins the Upper School weekly News Quiz, beating their nearest rivals, Year 13 ULM, by half a point.

They win the much coveted News Quiz Trophy and a box of chocolates. Mr Malcolmson was delighted and said that their success was due to great team work from his tutees; those in school and the remote learners, and he looks forward to retaining the trophy at Easter! Dr Marin, Year 12 tutor, demanded a recount and a stewards enquiry on behalf of UPM.

The score was independently verified, a legal challenge was denied and Mrs Thompson’s decision was upheld!

Mrs Thompson would like to thank all the Upper School Pastoral Team who have contributed to the quiz and the girls for taking part.

Developing Technique in the Music Department

As part of the Music Department’s ongoing commitment to the strengthening of technique and experience of playing together with the Ensemble Programme, we are happy to introduce the Cobham Quartet: Emilia and Martha (violins), Ayo (violin and viola), and Henrietta (cello).

We hope they have an excellent career together as they develop their ensemble skills to explore music from the Quartet repertoire-from Haydn and other early Viennese composers, Mozart, Beethoven. We look forward to a time when we can hear - and see - them perform in the beauty of the Gilt Hall.

In addition, early in the term Head of Music Mr Green introduced ‘Technique Week’ which saw Maddie (Flute), Emilia (Piano), Martha (Violin), Clara (Cello), Rhiannon (Voice), Selena (Guitar) and Jena (Composition) all compete for a prize of book tokens, presented by Marshall’s Audi in Bexley; as part of a shared “Vorsprung Durch Technik” (Advancement through Technique/Engineering) goal. 9 Head of Drama, Ms Gorman, was determined that despite Covid-19 restrictions, Year 9 were still going to get the chance to take part in The Shakespeare Schools’ Festival.

As Year 9 were a Year Group bubble, this meant that the performance and the required rehearsals were able to continue.

The performance was subsequently live-streamed as part of a national night of Shakespeare. Our live stream link was sent to all parents and guardians and the girls were thrilled that on the night, around 150 viewers tuned in, and views have since reached over 400.

The Year 9 ensemble production of The Tempest was appraised by Bethany Appleton of Shakespeare Schools Festival and she deemed it an exceptional ‘five star performance’:

“Against all odds you have shown the world that theatre can be created in the darkest of times. It was a wonderful performance.

“It was clear right from the start that your ensemble work was a huge strength of this company. It takes a cast completely in sync with one another to pull off big movement pieces like the shipwreck or the spirits working together, and you did it beautifully – these were both lovely pieces of physical theatre. I loved how you kept the whole cast on stage throughout the production – it was great to see every actor involved with every moment of the story.

This was a cast totally at home with Shakespeare’s language, who could land their lines with both clarity and with emotional impact. I am in awe of your boundless creativity, talent and determination. This was the year for experimentation and you rose to the challenge of performing Shakespeare for the camera with bravery, resilience and ingenuity.”