PERFORMING ARTS

The Performing Arts form a major part of the artistic life of the College, offering a wide range of Activities and Clubs across Music and Drama including the annual school show. Whether your interests lie in performance or production, there is something to suit everyone, from choral singing and opera, to acting and backstage skills including lighting, sound and props.

The Performing Arts offer students essential skills that are transferrable across the curriculum into life-long learning. If you are looking to diversify your skills and make lasting memories, get involved in Performing Arts!

Music

Music is an important part of the curriculum in all Jesuit schools, promoting creativity, confidence and self-expression. In addition, Music is a fundamental ingredient in both public and school life, from liturgies to prize-giving and concerts. Our liturgies take place in the beautiful St Aloysius’ Church, with its Van der Heuvel pipe organ. We are fortunate to be situated in the centre of Glasgow, in close proximity to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Theatre Royals and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, where our annual prizegiving takes place.

Music is a subject which transcends curricular attainment and our extensive co-curricular programme allows pupils to make a valuable contribution to the life of the College through their involvement in choirs, ensembles and the instrumental tuition programme. Our specialist choral training programme, Schola Cantorum, is led by a dedicated Head of Choral Music.

Schola

The Schola is a choral programme unique to St. Aloysius’ College. Pupils from P4-S6 get a chance to join some excellent choirs, but it is also a much wider educational experience. Members of the three auditioned choirs get the opportunity to receive free singing coaching, and members of the two junior choirs get subsidised instrumental lessons in an orchestral instrument. All choristers get the chance to learn using the Royal School of Church Music Voice for Life Scheme, and over 80 pupils have achieved awards.

SCHOLA CANTORUM S3-S6

The Schola is the College’s Senior Schola choir. We lead College liturgies, sing regular Sunday Masses in St. Aloysius’ Church and have a busy programme of other performances and concerts. We have sung Mass in St Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral and as part of ‘Sunday Worship’, live on BBC Radio 4. We are looking forward to a return visit to Liverpool next year. We also sing many secular songs from Spirituals to Jazz. Entry is by audition, normally from S3 upwards, but you don’t have to be an advanced singer to think of joining; potential is the key.

SCHOLA NOVA S1-S3

The Schola Nova is an unauditioned choir, consisting of pupils from S1S3. It is a transitional choir; many choristers from the Schola Puellarum and Schola Puerorum go straight to the Nova. However, it is very much open to all. We sing one Mass per term at St. Aloysius’ Church, and assist at College Masses. We are former winners of The Herald Challenge Trophy at the Glasgow Music Festival.

Schola Puellarum

This is our junior Schola for girls. Girls from P4 to S1 are members, and there is a simple audition to join, to gauge potential. Girls usually join in P4, but older girls in the Junior School are welcome to have a go (even a second go!) We lead Junior School liturgies, and sing several Sunday Masses in St. Aloysius’ Church, as well as a programme of concerts and other performances. In the last two years we have travelled to Edinburgh, St George’s Chapel, Windsor and Yorkshire. We sing all sorts of music, from plainchant to Latin American, along with secular songs.

SCHOLA PUERORUM P4-S1 BOYS

This is our junior Schola for boys. It works in exactly the same way as the girls’ Schola, and the opportunities are also exactly the same (although the songs we sing are different). Occasionally the choirs even sing together, as we did when singing backing vocals for Andrea Bocelli at the SSE Hydro a few years ago. Come and join the team!