Musical Inspiration at Uppingham From pupil to Director of Music By Andrew Kennedy (F 90)
M
usic is quite simply a way of life at Uppingham. For any pupil with a passion for music, the School offers boundless inspiration, opportunity and encouragement. With an ethos that celebrates both individual excellence and mass participation – the School caters to the musical ambitions and abilities of all of its pupils. Throughout its long history, Uppingham has been associated with many music-making pioneers including Paul David and Robert Sterndale Bennett, who between them covered 80 years of Uppingham’s history, Douglas Guest and more recently Jim Peschek – a legend amongst the School’s musical fraternity. Their spirt of adventure and vitality is sustained today by our internationally renowned singer and Director of Music, Andrew Kennedy (F 90). We are delighted that Andrew has shared his story – from discovering a love of music at prep school, being inspired to follow a professional musical career whilst at Uppingham and now nurturing and developing talented pupils on their journeys as musicians.
It was my piano teacher who planted the idea. “Have you thought of Uppingham?” he had suggested to my rather bewildered parents at a Prep School parents’ evening. In truth, we’d never even heard of the place. I had only become a chorister at the suggestion of a supportive primary school teacher who had overheard me singing a hymn rather tunefully in assembly. Following this, and a timely advert for Durham Chorister School in the Yorkshire Post that same week, my fate was sealed. It wasn’t all plain sailing though, homesickness and a rather strict regime were a tough ask for a seven-year-old boy. Finances were also a permanent worry. The house was re-
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mortgaged, cars were sold and family luxuries pared back to the bare minimum. And yet it was clear that I adored my music-making, and daily evensong in that beautiful cathedral became the highlight of my day. “The music at Uppingham is really something and I believe Andrew would thrive there,” was the final persuader. So, keen to do the best for their musical boy and bravely putting aside the thought of another five years of fees (in the end my education was funded entirely through bursaries, a situation that remains possible to this day), a meeting was hastily arranged with the Director of Music, Neil Page, and a hearty recommendation for a scholarship ensued.
