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27 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

what kind of style they’re trying to produce and to understand how they can develop that sound into their own kind of playing. Do you think that the pandemic has brought about changes to music at Teddies? During the pandemic many Directors of Music worried that afterwards music wouldn’t return to their schools at the same level. But I think St Edward’s is ambitious and hungry and we’ve immediately returned to the level we were on before – in some areas, we’ve possibly gone much higher. People are now wanting to perform and wanting to make the musical output really important and prominent, and to the pupils in the School; hats off to them, they do remarkable things. What have been your three finest moments at Teddies looking back over your time as Director of Music and the Arts? The first thing I did at School was in 2009, when I had to take the choir to perform at the BBC Festival of Remembrance in front of the Queen in the Royal Albert Hall. That was a stunning first term – to suddenly have to raise the game and try to really push our Chapel Choir to do something so remarkably special.

Josie Denvir performs in the Battle of the Bands in March

I’d say the second most memorable time was in 2013 when we celebrated the 150th anniversary and held the first ever Gaudy Week, which was absolutely huge. We came up with the idea of having an outside stage and a performance every single night and then incorporated drama and dance and often art and design into the equation, and that year there were lots and lots of fireworks!

And the third thing I would highlight is the pride in some of the musicals we’ve done, because of course that’s been my thing. Sweeney Todd last year was astonishing – watching young people really push themselves to their limits and try to learn something which should be way out of reach for a school. And it never is. If you’re ambitious and head for the stars, you can get to some amazing places!

‘If you’re ambitious and head for the stars, you can get to some amazing places!’

Alex conducting the St Edward’s Chapel Choir and Merton College Choir at a Morning Service in Merton College Chapel as part of the Music Teachers’ Association Conference in May