Musical Inspiration at Uppingham

By Andrew Kennedy (F 90)

Music 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 remortgaged, 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.

My first visit to Uppingham was on the evening before my audition and I immediately fell in love with the place. Neil in particular had an energy, warmth and effervescence that was hugely inspiring. The department was vibrant and the sheer volume and diversity of musical experiences on offer was staggering. During my time I conducted orchestras, played a piano concerto, sang and directed a variety of choirs, led the cello section in the Symphony Orchestra, accompanied Chapel Services on the organ, musically directed Grease in the theatre and performed in numerous venues – including a memorable set on tour playing the piano with the Jazz Band in Raffles Hotel! It was these musical experiences that ultimately spurred me on to a career as a professional musician. A choral scholarship to King’s College, Cambridge, a post-graduate course at the Royal College of Music, and a scholarship to the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, led to a rich and varied career as an opera singer and a plethora of tremendously exciting, challenging and treasured experiences.

And yet Uppingham gently called me back – a concert and a masterclass initially and then, some years later, the offer of a teaching post. Being a Director of Music was always the plan after university, but this had been shelved in preference for the singing. When the opportunity arose most recently, it simply made sense to apply. Here was an opportunity to put something back into the school that had nurtured me. Here was the opportunity to mould and encourage a new generation of Uppingham musicians, enthusiastic amateur or future opera singer alike.

As a direct result of my own musical journey, I am passionate about finding and nurturing inquisitive young musicians, from all walks of life, and giving them the opportunity of studying at Uppingham. Alongside this, and aware of cuts in musical state school education, I am also keen to support our local young musicians by getting out into primary schools, when restrictions ease, and attempting to find those versions of my younger self. I know first-hand what opportunities a quality musical education can give to a talented child and there has never been a greater need for discovering and nurturing the young musicians of the future.

As the first school in the country to have a music department and with an inspiring roster of Directors of Music including Paul David, Robert Sterndale Bennett and Douglas Guest, and their connections to some of the finest musicians in the world, Uppingham has a prestigious and important musical past. Music is still the golden thread that runs through the School. It is imperative that we remain a powerful and relevant musical force and I am proud to be the one chosen to sail this fantastic ship into the future. Needless to say, if you know of a musical talent that might benefit from the fabulous opportunities we have at Uppingham, or indeed if you’d like to support a talented young musician, then I’d be delighted to hear from you. Email ajk@uppingham.co.uk So many talented OUs, just like Andrew, started off with music scholarships at Uppingham. There are far too many to name here, but the likes of Robin Blaze (Fgh 85), Toby Spence (Hf 82), Adam Green (L 87), Andrea Cockerton (J 89), Elizabeth Atherton (J 90), John Bungard (SH 91), Tom Williams (B 91) and Ashley Grote (Hf 95) were all at Uppingham through the 1980s and 1990s, and have gone on to successful professional careers in music.

However, news reports confirm vast numbers of musicians have been out of work since March, and with theatres and concert venues remaining closed, the pandemic is having a huge impact on the sector and all those employed in the industry.

During lockdown, Andrea Cockerton (J 89) devised the incredible initiative #LOCKJAM, creating an online space where musicians could bring gigs to people in their homes, whilst at the same time supporting freelance musicians and sound crews that were out of work and in need.

We held our very own Uppingham #LOCKJAM on 18th June when Andrea and her band performed for us live. More than 80 OUs logged on to the gig, with vintages spanning from the 1950s to recent leavers and from as far afield as the Czech Republic, France, USA, UAE and Canada! It was fantastic fun and a great way to bring everyone together. Our enormous thanks to Andrea; we look forward to our next #LOCKJAM in December.

And to all of our OU musicians, we hope the music industry will recover swiftly and allow you to perform once again. The world needs live music more than ever.