St Edward's Chronicle October 2016

1 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE CHRONICLE OCTOBER 2016 | VOLUME XXXVI | NUMBER 671

THE SOUND OF MUSIC Teddies is alive with possibilities as the Music School nears completion Five Years The Warden is quizzed on past, present and future House Life

Spotlight on the diverse and vital work of Matrons

2 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Taking Stock

What should we look out for this academic year? New £7m Music School The new Music School will be utterly brilliant. It will give us a real home for music at Teddies and will enable the Department to expand its repertoire. We will be able to offer more specialisation in instrument groups and will have an elegant new Recital Room in which to showcase our pupils’ talents. It’s a great statement about the importance of music: for the first time in decades, we will have all the space we need to grow and thrive. The NorthWall:

In September, the Warden celebrated five years at Teddies. To mark the occasion, we quizzed him on achievements to date, changes and future plans.

House Culture As part of the academic drive, we have worked hard on House culture. For our pupils to succeed, they need to have the right approach to all aspects of their life at School. Getting the right balance in House between the necessary down time and productive academic endeavour is essential and I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made in this area. Pastoral Pastoral care is always high on our agenda. We receive excellent feedback on our pastoral arrangements from all quarters – but of course we can never be complacent. Housemasters, Housemistresses,

Watch the latest Dance video on the website www.stedwards oxford.org

for the School The North Wall celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. At the heart of what

is becoming a ‘cultural quarter’ on South Parade, The North Wall brings drama and creativity into the heart of the School. Our pupils have truly been able to flourish in the performing arts, not only because they

have excellent facilities in which to develop their own skills, but also because they have access to a professional theatre. Lucy Maycock’s dazzling programming brings the very best performers, writers and directors into the

Read about the life of a Matron on pages 22-24

How has St Edward’s changed since you became Warden? Academic Without question, the biggest change has been in the classroom. When I arrived, there were far too many pupils sitting in rows occasionally

Assistant HMs and Matrons all now undertake training programmes in, for example, adolescent mental health,

pupils’ day-to-day lives. Just a few weeks ago, Iqbal Khan, who recently directed Macbeth at the Globe and will shortly direct Antony and Cleopatra at the Royal

the science of the teenage brain and internet security. The role that matrons play as pastoral leaders is increasingly emphasised. Furthermore, Beth Steer has been

Read the interview

raising their hands. Classrooms at Teddies are now, in the main, dynamic and interactive. Pupils are expected to get involved, to have views – and to work with each other to share ideas and find solutions, just as they will have to when they enter the workplace. I’m very pleased

with Matthew Albrighton and Dr Lucinda Gallagher on pages 20-21 to find out more

appointed to the new role of Head of Pupil Wellbeing; Beth’s previous roles in PSHE

and as Head of the Peer Listening Programme have been amalgamated to give her a recognised platform for this important area of school life. IB Growth I’m very pleased with the growth of the IB. It is now an established part of school culture and we’re close to having equal numbers on A Level and IB courses. Both qualifications have something to offer and I’m delighted that we have been able to make a success of the Diploma – many schools have tried to run it alongside A Level only to abandon it after a few years.

with the change in academic atmosphere - there’s a real buzz; staff discuss pedagogical matters and their engagement is reflected in the classroom and in pupils’ attitudes. Boarding Our fifth girls’ House, Jubilee, opened in 2013. Setting new standards in boarding house design, Jubilee furthers our mission to create the perfect balance of boys and girls at the School. Currently 60% / 40% boys/girls, we are working towards 50/50. We look forward to celebrating 20 years of full co-education at Teddies next year.

Beth Steer, Head of Pupil Wellbeing

3 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

The Ogston Music School will open in January

Valentin Horak ( Albertus Magnus Gymnasium ), Natalia Elezovic ( Fulham Prep ) and Oscar Paul ( Northcote Lodge ) in an English class with Mrs Picknett

4 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

The NorthWall: a public arts centre The North Wall is as important to the community as it is to the School. Bringing quality drama and art to North Oxford through its public programming, The North Wall also runs important outreach activities for talented young performers, writers, directors and technicians. It is a sophisticated

Shakespeare Company, worked on a new play in The North Wall; GCSE Drama pupils were able to sit in on rehearsals: a remarkable opportunity. The North Wall has also been a stimulus for the outstanding growth in Dance at the School and of course our artists have a public exhibition space in which to display their work.

arts centre with a national (and increasingly international) reputation operating with enormous success on a number of levels. Tutoring RSA Academics carried out detailed research with parents last year, the results of which will determine some of our priorities for the

Sophia Majzub ( Dragon ), Alex Hearn ( St Hugh’s ) and Kyla Haslett-Hawkins ( Dragon ) in a Chemistry class with Mr Richards

5 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Weekends Elsewhere in the research, weekends were under the spotlight. Some parents wanted more events on Saturdays and Sundays (whilst others wanted their children to have a rest from the breakneck pace of timetabled activities), and a number of parents expressed a wish for greater flexibility on Saturday nights. We will be looking at both these issues in further detail this year. New day arrangements The new day arrangements came into force at the start of term, and it is interesting that most of our day pupils are choosing to stay until 9.00pm. We are pleased to offer flexibility to parents – particularly those who live some way from St Edward’s – but we are equally delighted that the strong bonds between day and boarding pupils – a hallmark of Teddies – mean that their habit of spending evenings together is proving a hard one to break. Sport Sport will continue to be a big part of school life. All pupils regularly participate in a wide range of sports as part of the weekly routine. In particular, this year, we aim to maintain our current reputation as one of the top cricketing schools in the country, and to build our substantial record in both boys’ and girls’ rowing. Music The official opening of the Music School in March will be very special. Brass, Close Harmony, Chamber and Modern Jazz groups will perform in the new Recital Room, and Upper Sixth soloists will sing a Bach cantata with the Chamber Orchestra. Both Chapel Choirs will sing the Pizzetti Requiem Mass for Remembrance in November which will be wonderfully atmospheric. OSE have a chance to come back to Teddies for a Choral Weekend in April – they’ll be singing Tallis’s 40-part Motet, Spem in Alium , which will be dazzling. Plus we have termly rock soc gigs and a really exciting Close Harmony weekend activity for pupils involving well- known groups from Oxford University. Finally Amidst all these developments, one thing hasn’t changed – and on this matter I am absolutely firm: our belief in St Edward’s as a broad entry school with a diverse community. During the recent research, parents and pupils told us that the size of

coming months. At the top of that list is a review of the tutoring system. It was clear from the research that whilst tutoring itself is highly regarded, tutors’ communication with parents has not been up to the mark. We’ve already done quite a bit of work on this internally and parents should begin to feel the difference this term.

the School, its atmosphere, the excellent relationships between pupils and staff – and between pupils across year groups – are what make Teddies special. ‘We look after each other’, is how one Sixth Former put it; we value this above all else.

Carlo Graeser ( Kloskr Schaeftlarn Gymnasium ), Caris Baker ( Dragon ), Billy Sallitt ( Horris Hill ) and Alanna McCrum ( Jumeirah College )

Cover picture: the front cover of this special music edition features Sixth Former Ella Davis whose profile appears on page 16.

Find out more Enjoy extra snippets of news by following @TeddiesOxford @TeddiesSport

@TeddiesRowing @TeddiesCowells @TeddiesSegars @TeddiesRhubarb @TeddiesMartyrs @TheNorthWall

@TeddiesGeog @TeddiesAJW Teddies TV Tune in for our latest films: The Steeplechase, The Shell Year, The Dance Showcase, Teddies at the Fringe and Summer at the North Wall – all not to be missed. www.stedwardsoxford.org

6 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Results and Destinations 2016 By Matthew Albrighton, Deputy Head Academic

Teddies pupils yet again achieved the results they required to secure places on rigorous courses at an impressive range of top universities in the UK and overseas. In the Upper Sixth, 75% of grades were at the top end (A*-B at A Level or Levels 5 – 7 in the IB); 47% were at the highest level (A*/A at A Level, or Levels 6/7 in the IB).

this year were the bio-sciences, English, Economics, Philosophy and Law; more specialised options were Arabic and French at Edinburgh; Japanese and Philosophy at Leeds; Professional Musicianship at the British Institute of Modern Music, Bristol; and Architecture at the prestigious Architectural Association. A quarter of IB candidates achieved 40 points or more, a high score equating to a string of A*/As at A Level. The average point score was 35.8. Amélie Waters performed exceptionally well to score 44, just one short of the maximum, far exceeding the points she required to study English and French Law at King’s College London. With 43 points, Camille Bonini met her offer to study Veterinary Science at the Royal Veterinary College, one of the most competitive courses in the country. Martin Ho and Sarah Kulubya each scored 42 points enabling Sarah to read Law at Durham and Martin to confirm his place to study Biochemistry at Imperial College. Meriel Turner achieved 41 points and will study Liberal Arts at Durham. Five pupils will take up places at US universities: Kendall MacDonald at the University of California, Santa Barbara; Hussein Popat at the University of California, Los Angeles; Louis Verschoyle at New

York University’s Tisch School of the Arts; Ademide Adewunmi at Northeastern University, Boston; and Jean-Luc Bonnefoy at Babson College, Boston. Elsewhere, Elizaveta Skarga will study Medicine at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and Ken Laeremans will study Business Administration at the University of Madrid. New this year was the significant number of unconditional offers from prestigious universities such as Durham, Bristol and Imperial College, London – making for a very relaxed summer for those concerned. Of those taking up places, 80% of pupils will do so at their first or insurance choice; 75% at Russell Group or equally prestigious universities. Following her impressive work with Casper Sunley to launch the pupil media team, Teddies on Camera, Celia Hodgson has gone straight into a filmmaking role. GCSE pupils returned an equally strong set of results. Jamie Chen, Millie Tozer, James Curtis, Valery Orlova, Maddie Luke, Pasha Tinkov, Alex Miller, Matt Thornton, Nick Elliott, Caleb Akponasa and Jack Roberts all achieved nine or more A* grades, with 35 pupils achieving at least 10 A* or A grades. Overall, 32% of grades were A*, 63% A*/A and 88% A*-B. In Physics, Biology and DT, 75% of grades were A*/A.

Outstanding A Level results were achieved by: MatthewAdams,A*A*A*, Theoretical Physics at Durham Henry Johnson,A*A*A, Politics at Durham Calypso Newman,A*A*A, Politics at King’s College London Francesca Sargent,A*A*A, Law at Bristol Romey Oulton,A*A*A, Theology and Sociology at Bristol Will Phillips A*A*A, Economics and Politics at Bristol Tom Lloyd,A*A*A

Overall, 42% of A Level grades were A*/A and 70% A*-B. Particularly popular

Matt Thornton ( Wheatley Park ), Jamie Chen ( German Swiss International ), Alex Miller ( Winchester House ), Jamie Curtis ( Cherwell ), Maddie Luke ( Dragon ), Nick Elliott ( Aldro ), Millie Tozer ( Banda ), Pasha Tinkov ( Anglo American School of Moscow ), Valery Orlova ( Wychwood ) and Jack Roberts ( Abingdon Prep )

7 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Steeplechase

Last month’s all-school Steeplechase was a wonderfully spirited occasion. Well done to the winning Houses: Junior and Senior Boys: Sing’s; Junior and Senior Girls, Corfe. Individual winners were: Junior Boys: William James ( Our Lady’s Abingdon ); Junior Girls: Tallulah Willoughby-Messer ( St Andrew’s, Pangbourne ); Senior Boys: Matt Thornton ( Wheatley Park ); and Senior Girls: Lizzie Dorey ( Cherwell ). Watch the pupil-made Steeplechase video on Teddies TV at www.stedwardsoxford.org.

8 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Shell Biology Lucy Baddeley writes: The annual Shell Biology project, to create a physical model of a cell with annotations, continues to play an important part in our Shell Curriculum. You can see from these photos how our pupils respond to the challenge. Below Damola Otegbola describes how he created his excellent models of both an animal and a plant cell last year. All models are currently on show in the foyer of the Ogston Building. ‘When I started my cell project I had to look for inspiration and where better to look than previous cell projects. I made notes on things that were good and things I felt I could do better. I thought to myself: why make one cell when you can make two? So that’s what I did! I encountered a few challenges - for example, my first plant cell was made of Play Doh but it cracked. With just four days left before the start of term, it was a race against time to make a new one; luckily I finished it just in time. Damola Otegbola

Damola Otegbola (St John’s Beaumont)

Ella Leeson ( Cheam )

Benjamin Deutsch ( Christ Church Cathedral )

Aniella Weinberger ( Cheam )

Scholarships 2016 13+ Scholarships and Exhibitions BrewerWilliams Scholarship Oscar Ross ( New College ) Lord Egerton Scholarship for Classics Oscar Ross ( New College )

Sixth Form Scholarships and Exhibitions Academic Scholarship Sassy Hammersley ( St Edward’s ) Academic Exhibition Jiuyuan Lai ( Jiaxing Number 1 Middle School ) Sports Scholarships James Schofield ( Stockport Grammar ) Max Thompson ( Abingdon ) Music Exhibition Wilfrid Cartwright ( Cokethorpe ) Art Scholarship Ewan Brown ( Leicester Grammar ) Art Exhibition Georgia Heath ( Repton, Dubai ) Dance Scholarship Eloise Newell ( AIS, Johannesburg ) Drama Exhibition Harry Whattoff ( Stamford )

Sports Scholarships Kunal Barman ( Bristol Grammar ) Luke Charlesworth ( Our Lady’s Abingdon ) Greg Fisilau ( Caldicott ) Harvey Machin ( The Warriner ) Isabelle Rees ( Winchester House ) Harrison Wells ( Abingdon Prep ) Tallulah Willoughby-Messer ( St Andrew’s, Pangbourne ) Sports Exhibitions Jack Barrett ( Summer Fields ) Joshua Davies ( Pembroke House ) William Finch ( The Beacon ) Daisy Helling ( Pipers Corner ) Lily Helling ( Pipers Corner ) Daniel Hoggar ( Wellesley House ) Florence Howard ( Feltonfleet ) James Marsh ( Caldicott ) Drama Exhibition Benjamin Neville ( St John’s College )

Academic Exhibitions India Courage ( Cheam ) Tiggy Jones ( Dragon ) Eliza McCrum ( Jumeirah College ) Music Scholarship Oscar Ross ( New College ) Music Exhibitions Tristan Hays Watson ( Christ Church Cathedral ) Tiggy Jones ( Dragon ) Nicholas Sawyer ( Christ Church Cathedral ) Art Exhibition Jasper Lloyd ( Dragon ) All-Rounder Scholarship Nicholas Sawyer ( Christ Church Cathedral ) All-Rounder Exhibition Joshua Thomas ( Swanbourne House )

Lord Halifax Scholarship Sylvie Abdoo ( Godstowe Prep ) Douglas BaderAward Nicholas Sawyer ( Christ Church Cathedral ) Martyrs Scholarship Sasha Withers Green ( Cranford House ) Academic Scholarships Kunal Barman ( Bristol Grammar ) Grace Flynn ( Dragon ) Isabelle Rees ( Winchester House )

9 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

FOCUS ON MUSIC

When did you first become interested in music? My best friend started having piano lessons so my parents thought it would be a good idea for me too. My teacher was brilliant – covering the basics of technique, but equally happy to cover other musical styles, and the theory of musical harmony and composition. I was taken to musical shows from an early age, around seven or eight years old: Me and My Girl , Les Misérables , Cats , The Phantom of the Opera – I loved them, and this soon became just as important to me as classical music. At senior school (Forest in East London), the Director of Music spotted my enthusiasm and took me under his wing. By the time I was 16, I was Musical Director for the local amateur dramatic society, and organist and choirmaster for a major church in Leytonstone. Being at a day school meant learning to juggle from an early age. Boarding pupils have the luxury of everything being on tap and an extended school day in which to pursue other interests. As a day pupil, I had to find opportunities outside school, and then tackle the inevitable logistics. It was an excellent grounding; all musicians need to be expert jugglers! What did you do after school? I won an organ scholarship to Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. The Chapel was built in 1990 so I wasn’t following in a great tradition – as only the second Organ Scholar, I had to work with the organ master to lay the foundations of scholarship in the practice and study of

Alex Tester

organ music. On the academic side, I specialised in medieval and renaissance notation, and the emergence of jazz and Gershwin. Alongside my academic study and roles of choirmaster and organist, I became musical director of Footlights and played jazz piano regularly. I went

We catch up with Alex Tester, Director of Music, as he looks forward to taking up residence in his Department’s new home on South Parade.

to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with Footlights in ‘96 and ‘97. The ’96 Fringe was a complete whirlwind – we performed three different shows every night for a month – at 5pm, 8pm and 11pm. It was

excellent preparation for managing Gaudy Week!

10

ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

FOCUS ON MUSIC

Was it easy to decide what to do as a career? By the middle of my university years, I felt I had two options: theatre or teaching. I picked the latter because it seemed to offer the greatest variety. In theatre, you can play the same material every night for months. I completed a PGCE and took up my first teaching post at Uppingham where I stayed for 12 years. I joined St Edward’s in 2009. What attracted you to St Edward’s? The breadth of the education on offer and the range of musical activities: music should be part of everyone’s life. The city was a big attraction - there are wonderful venues, and countless world-class performances. How have things changed since you arrived? There has always been excellent music at Teddies, but it hasn’t always had a high enough profile in the outside world. All musicians love the pressure and excitement of big occasions. Within my first two years, we had taken part in the BBC Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall and joined the English Chamber Orchestra for a performance at London’s Cadogan Hall; thinking big and connecting with the wider musical landscape was a reasonably new idea. What have been the highlights of the past seven years? Inevitably, the big occasions like the ones I’ve just mentioned: St John’s Smith Square, Cadogan Hall and our two Evensongs at St Paul’s Cathedral. I’ve been immensely proud of our musicals - Into theWoods and West Side Story in particular. We now have a proper rock, pop and tech scene so our annual Battle of the Bands is hotly contested and increasingly professional. We’re also starting to offer proper orchestral concerts with programmes of overtures, concertos and symphonies. What opportunities will the new Music School open up? It will allow us to grow and develop with confidence over the next 10 – 20 years. The only thing limiting our musical ambition has been the space available for rehearsals and teaching. The Ferguson Music School was ahead of its time in the 1960s, but every single day of the past seven years has begun

from cathedral choir schools, or from schools with major music departments. The unique thing is that people come here because they don’t want to over-specialise; they want to be outstanding musicians, but they also want to achieve on the academic front, or on the rugby pitch or netball court. In our present Upper Sixth, four pupils are looking at Oxbridge choral awards, and two are looking at music college places – a good indication of the ambition of our senior musicians. What music do you listen to in your spare time? I listen to everything. I particularly enjoy 20th- and 21st-century choral and orchestral stuff and I love modern composers like James Macmillan and Nico Muhly. I still enjoy musicals in the West End and on Broadway – and I always look out for touring jazz bebop. The last gig I went to was Muse at the Emirates Stadium. Finally, what does the future hold? The new Music School sets the scene for at least a decade of growth and development. Without question, it will allow us to up our game. We now have a real opportunity to gain a national reputation for music, just as The North Wall has allowed us to do with drama, dance and art. The Music School completes the School’s ‘cultural quarter’ on South Parade and is a very exciting addition to our facilities.

with logistics issues: how and where can we fit everything in? With the extraordinary success of The North Wall, the arts have been exceptionally strong over the past decade. Music has been growing at the same pace but desperately needed room in which Dedicated music classrooms for the first time - equipped with the very latest audio and video equipment; I’ve been teaching in my office! Departmental space is centred around a proper Recital Room for rehearsals, regular events such as Friday at Five and chamber concerts. A carefully commissioned music tech studio will house a rock room and vocal recording booth, and will enable us to take an audio feed from the Recital Room. A new Sixth Form Music Library, with modern work stations, will make it far easier for pupils to understand the possibilities of further academic music study. Most importantly, the Music School will triple the number of practice rooms overnight. If we want our pupils to be more ambitious we must make it as easy and pleasant as possible for them to practise. Even with our cramped conditions, ten Grade 8s have been achieved this year, with two or three pupils considering a Diploma. With our growing reputation locally, we have a good number of prep school pupils to develop and thrive. What will it feature?

Casper Sunley

The ‘dream team’ behind the 2015 production of Fame! – Choreographer Dennis Victory; Producer and Head of Dance, Lisa Elkins; Co-Producer Beth Steer; and Director of Music, Alex Tester

11

FOCUS ON MUSIC

ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Heather Murphy What do you do atTeddies and how long have you been at the school? I teach Physics and this is my fourth year here. Where were you before? Studying for a PGCE at Nottingham. What do you most enjoy about your role? The breadth of responsibility we have as staff is very important to me. It is great to be not only a teacher but involved in music, sport and life in the boarding house. What has been your favourite Teddies moment so far? Definitely when Alex Tester, Gabs Damiani and Neville Creed performed a rap song at the Chapel Choir dinner. Either that or their cover of a One Direction song the year after… What musical activities are you involved in at School? I sing in the Chapel Choir, Chamber Choir and generally attempt to convince as many people as possible to join in with music at Teddies. Duruflé but the best moment was the performance of Howells’ Collegium Regale: it was a difficult piece and the choirs were truly outstanding. What are you most looking forward to about the new Music School? Having a warm rehearsal venue (Chapel is cold during the Autumn Term). What music do you listen to in your spare time? I listen to (and play) a lot of folk music and rock music, particularly artists such as James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and the Foo Fighters. Favourite place in Oxford? Probably the White Rabbit, eating pizza! Best advice you’ve ever been given? Don’t regret your future, it makes no sense to do so. What has been your favourite musical moment atTeddies? I loved singing the Requiem by

12

ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

FOCUS ON MUSIC

Aaron Gruen What musical activities are you involved in atTeddies? I play the cello and am involved in the orchestra, several chamber music groups and a band. Where were you at school before and what made you choose St Edward’s? Previously I was at the international school in Munich, where I live. I chose to come to Teddies not only because of the excellent music programme, but also because Teddies enables me to balance music, sports and academics. Also, the first time I visited the School and saw the Quad and sport pitches, I knew that I was going to come to Teddies! What has been your favourite musical performance at St Edward’s? It would have to be when I performed the first movement of the Haydn Cello Concerto at St John’s Smith Square in London last year. It was amazing playing in such a great venue, and I really felt like all the hard work of practising paid off. What are you most looking forward to about the new Music School? I’m really looking forward to the large new recital hall and the spacious practice rooms because, as a musician, you need space to think, and spread out, and you need the sound you produce to resonate. Which teacher has had the most influence on your musical development? That’s a hard choice, and I would of course say that both my parents and my cello teachers - at Teddies (Mrs Amherst) and back in Munich - have helped me enormously. But I also have to give a lot of credit to Mr Damiani, who has given up so much of his time to rehearse with me and is always there to provide extra help. What music do you listen to in your spare time? It really depends on what I’m doing, but most of the time it is a mixture of classical music or modern pop. What do you want to do after school? I plan to take a gap year and hopefully study at a music conservatory, either in the UK or in Germany. Afterwards I plan to study Medicine in the United States.

13

FOCUS ON MUSIC

ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

George Fenton

George Fenton OSE, one of the UK’s most successful composers, is behind countless award-winning scores for theatre, film and TV including Bergerac , The Jewel in the Crown , the Newsnight theme, Groundhog Day , A Handful of Dust and the BBC’s Earth Trilogy: The Blue Planet, Planet Earth and Frozen Planet . A concert series based on the Trilogy is currently enjoying huge international success, playing most recently in Norway, Germany and China. Recent theatre and film projects include the soundtrack for Wild Oats , directed by Andy Tennant starring Demi Moore, Shirley MacLaine and Jessica Lange; The Lady in the Van , directed by Nick Hytner, written by Alan Bennett, and starring Dame Maggie Smith; and the musical, Mrs Henderson Present s, which ran at the Noel Coward Theatre in London earlier this year.

George Fenton in his studio, 2015

When did you first become interested in music? Quite early. Although not musicians themselves, both my parents were musical. They both played a bit of piano – my father had played the drums when he was younger. I had a musician aunt and my great grandfather was a conductor. So there was music in the family and in the house. My first instrument was the guitar – I started learning when I was about seven years old. I had no interest at all in formal music at that time, I wasn’t keen on music lessons. It felt as though they would be dreary. So my first experiences were all by ear. I enjoyed playing guitar and the piano, and I then sang in the church choir, which was where I began to read music. In church I was impressed by the mysteries of the organ, and decided I wanted to learn how to play. Probably for the same reasons as l liked the electric guitar – noise – sheer force. It struck me as being the ultimate ‘blast’ in terms of expression and musical power.

Why did you come to St Edward’s? My godfather, whom I never knew because he had died when I was very young, had been to St Edward’s. My mother thought him the world’s nicest person, so to her it seemed like a natural choice. Teddies was mainly known for sport at the time, particularly rowing and rugby. I liked rugby, and my father had rowed, so I embraced that side of school life; I was quite good at sport and I enjoyed it. What are the biggest differences between the School then and now? I would say ambition. School life was much simpler then and so was life beyond school so there was no expectation that you would be involved in everything and there were also far fewer options. As long as you were getting on OK, no one worried. School is far more energetic today – pupils are involved in a huge number of activities and interests; they really make the most of their time at school. It’s as important with extra curricular activities as it is with the

14

ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

FOCUS ON MUSIC

core ones. Schools today have a far greater relevance to life outside which in itself is much more diverse. Did you enjoy school? I was very homesick initially – but after I’d settled in I had a good time and made some good friends, although I don’t think we ever thought we were supposed to enjoy school. I think I was the first person at the school to own an electric guitar. My housemaster let me keep it in a cupboard in the Geography hut because in the afternoons, when I was allowed to practise, it was miles away from everyone. Eventually there was a band in my House, Field House, and another emerged in Mac’s. There were actually quite a few of us into rock/pop music – in Segar’s there was John Silver, who was the first drummer in the band that became Genesis. Music in general was nowhere near as accessible to pupils as it is today. Unless you were a music scholar it was slightly on the fringe of school life. After my early attempts to learn the organ, I started formal lessons at Teddies aged 13 with Peter Whitehouse. I was no prodigy and a late starter and therefore under no particular pressure; I was allowed to discover music at my own pace and to find out what I liked about it in a very relaxed way. Yes, I did exams, but they didn’t seem especially important at the time. I

found great calm in practising the organ and in the peace of the Chapel. If you watch a truly exceptional individual at work – be they a dancer, footballer, musician, or whatever – even as a layman – it’s always obvious that they have something special. I knew even then that Whitehouse had that quality. He was an incredibly skilled musician. I was greatly influenced by him in life as well as in music; he gave me the confidence to try things and he continued to do that even after I left School. He became a lifelong friend and I am always thankful to Teddies for that. I was so stressed when I started School (hopefully that’s not the case for people now) that I thought of it as some kind of necessary and painful rehearsal for life, but looking back at that friendship and a couple of others too I see that School wasn’t just ‘school’ – as in five years in brackets – because it offered connections and possibilities which became a very real part of my life. I didn’t fully understand that and certainly not the importance of my relationship with Peter until I knew him as an adult and worked with him, which I did extensively. How did you launch what has been a hugely successful career? I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do, other than play the guitar and not take up the option I had to go to university, which my parents didn’t seem to mind

about. I left school in 1968 – so there was no anxiety about finding a job. The security of knowing that had a wildly liberating effect on all of my generation. There was an explosion of nightclubs, boutiques, bands, hairdressers, shops etc. It was a cultural revolution of sorts but in the certain knowledge that if you had half a brain you could always get a regular job if it went wrong. I couldn’t really imagine I would actually earn a living in music so I messed around a lot. Played in a couple of bands and was a delivery driver for an off-licence. I had half wanted to become an actor and I sort of did to the extent that I was rescued from the off-licence by getting a part in Alan Bennett’s first West End play, Forty Years On . (I even made a brief appearance in Emmerdale ). As a result of that I was encouraged to audition for, and was offered a place at, Central School of Speech and Drama but I turned it down because by then I was making a bit of a start in music - I had session work and a recording deal and was also studying music again. And following on from that I began to do some arranging and orchestrating. My first real break came when I had a call from the Royal Shakespeare Company saying a director wanted to meet me. I had played guitar for them in a previous production so I assumed that was the reason but it turned out he was calling

Rehearsing Planet Earth at the Barbican

15

FOCUS ON MUSIC

ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

an actor who he had mistakenly thought was me from my photo in an old Spotlight directory. He asked me to read anyway and then play something. This chance meeting led to him asking me to arrange the music for Twelfth Night at Stratford. I began work but I couldn’t find a traditional setting for one of the songs to arrange, so I wrote one – which he liked and asked me to write the rest of the music. The director was Peter Gill, the hugely influential playwright and director who later opened the Riverside Studios, which became a venue of international importance in the 1970s. Peter had an enormous influence on my career. I worked on all his productions at the Riverside and with him at the National Theatre – and my first television score was for a Stephen Poliakoff play which he directed. One of Peter Gill’s greatest fans was the theatre director Michael Attenborough. Through this connection, I got my second big break when Michael, whom I didn’t know, played my music to his father Richard Attenborough, and this bizarrely led to me co-writing with Ravi Shankar the music for Gandhi . It was working on Ghandi that really changed everything for me and opened up unimaginable opportunities. I went on to write scores for four more of Richard Attenborough’s films including Cry Freedom and Shadowlands. What is the process of writing a film score? There are occasions when one is required to write music before or during a film shoot, for example for a dance sequence, but generally the process of scoring a film hasn’t really changed since silent films, insofar as the score is added to the finished picture in order to awake or inform our senses (although its original use was to drown out the noise of the projector). This order of things – the music being the final stage of a film has largely survived through the days of the great studio system and is still common now. Sometimes sooner but usually when the film reaches its “fine cut” stage the composer will meet with the director and editor and “spot” the film, which means deciding where the music should stop and start, taking into account narrative, emphasis, pacing, sound design etc. Of course in some instances like an action film the music hardly ever stops but nevertheless it is the opportunity for the director to express and discuss his or her

George in a cameo role as the conductor alongside pianist Clare Hammond as the young Dame Maggie Smith in The Lady in the Van

ambition for the film’s impact and how the score can best help the audience to respond in the right way. Did you embrace a celebrity lifestyle? Not really although I did enjoy celebrity status at my local Indian restaurant after I did Gandhi! I’ve had enormous privileges thanks to my work and met and worked with some amazing people but generally no one outside the business has ever had a clue who I am or what I do so celebrity has never been an option and I’m pleased about that. I have enjoyed my time in Hollywood and have been fortunate enough to be nominated a few times for the Academy Award so that was nice, but being a composer in film is very much a “back

room boy” job working with editors and directors and of course wonderful musicians, which is the real highlight. Even though I worked non-stop in Hollywood for a while I didn’t want to make my life there. Hollywood is a wonderfully “can do” place but one tends to get pigeonholed and for that reason I have been happier since I haven’t been based there. I feel freer in my work options. From a career full of highlights, what would be your most memorable? Without a doubt, working with Richard Attenborough – and also with Ken Loach. I’ve composed the music for the last 16 of his films. Perhaps the most significant highlight stems from a snap decision I made in 2000, which was to abandon an incredibly lucrative film I was about to start and come home and write the score for The Blue Planet , purely on the strength of the title. The Blue Planet was followed by Planet Earth and Frozen Planet . This Earth Trilogy has changed my working life. Tremendous projects in themselves, they also gave me a new musical opportunity, which was to create, in partnership with the BBC, concert programmes with the footage re-cut and with no narration, projected above a full orchestra. They’ve proved popular and as a result I have taken them to many of the world’s greatest orchestras, both in concert halls and arenas. The concerts, with or without me, are now appearing in venues as diverse as the Hollywood Bowl and cruise ships! And for the feature film spin-offs Deep Blue and Earth I had the chance to

Conducting the music for Ken Loach’s period drama Jimmy’s Hall at Abbey Road Studios

16

ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

FOCUS ON MUSIC

record and conduct the Berlin Philharmonic. Deep Blue was the first film score that the Berlin Philharmonic. had recorded in its entire history. As highlights go that was an unbelievable one. It was like a dream. What are you working on now? Theoretically ‘on having a more balanced life’, which is good because it means I can spend more time concentrating on the next phase of The North Wall, which I was very involved with at the start and which I am passionate about. It’s one of St Edward’s greatest resources. I would like it to be a completely integrated part of life for the whole school community. The new Music School, too, will be a great and timely asset for Teddies. Learning music in a first class environment will have a huge impact on music in the school and the increased

facilities such as the Recital Room will be a further attraction and point of access for everyone to enjoy music and hopefully in time will offer some excellent and varied programmes for all. So it’s an exciting prospect. Aside from that I recently finished the Ken Loach film, I, Daniel Blake and in July I recorded a score for a new 3D Imax film Predators . I’m working on a series of documentaries about the environment for CCTV in China and Channel 4, and I am in the early stages of writing a new stage musical to be produced in Vienna. I’m also preparing a series of concerts with the Philharmonia, with whom I work a lot. The next one is at the Festival Hall in December. In general I’m most at home writing music in an applied or collaborative sense.

I like how it can add to other stories and actions and make us connect with them. Film and theatre have endlessly interested me for that reason. Now I’m also starting to write something specifically for dance – which feels like a natural progression – to try to create a significant enough narrative through music for someone to make a ballet. That’s the hope. Awards: George has won four BAFTA Awards including for Bergerac and The Blue Planet ; Primetime Emmys for Beyond the Clouds , The Blue Planet and P lanet Earth ; The Classical Brit; and seven Ivor Novello Awards including for Shadowlands , Cry Freedom , Gandhi , The Monocled Mutineer and The Jewel in the Crown .

Ella Davis What musical activities are you involved in atTeddies? I sing regularly with the Chapel and Chamber Choirs. Additionally I play in the harp ensemble and take individual classes in piano, harp and singing. Where were you at school before and what made you choose St Edward’s? I attended The Study Preparatory, Wimbledon, and then spent two years at Kingston Grammar School. I chose Teddies because of the opportunity it gave me to continue with all my extra-curricular activities alongside my academic work. The strength of the Music and Dance Departments was particularly alluring and my time at the School has taught me that the reality of the incredible Music Department far exceeds its reputation. What has been your favourite musical performance or moment at St Edward’s? It seems as though my days at Teddies are defined by musical events - from the West Side Story production to numerous Sundays singing with the Chapel Choir. However, my favourite would have to be the annual Scholars’ Recital. Despite the nerves, I love how all the scholars and teachers come

together to support each other and the beautiful music that is created through doing so. What are you most looking forward to about the new Music School? The Sixth Form Music Library. I’m taking A Level music so I imagine I’ll be spending a lot of time there! Which teacher has had the most influence on your musical development? Mr Tester, who is an incredible teacher and leader. He seems to know everything that’s going on in the Music Department and is an ever-present source of good humour and advice never failing to brighten the day. What music do you listen to in your spare time? I love to listen to opera, particularly Maria Callas. I adore her recording of the Mona Lisa aria from Madame Butterfly . I hate to admit it but I have a secret love of country music, much to the dismay of my housemates! What do you want to do after school? I hope to go on to study either English or Music at Oxbridge. I would love to gain a Choral Scholarship and be able to continue singing in a Chapel Choir.

17

FOCUS ON MUSIC

ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Glass Animals

By John Wiggins, Contributor-at-Large

Left to right: Joe Seaward, Drew MacFarlane, Dave Bayley and Ed Irwin-Singer, all OSE

It was a pleasure and delight for the OSE band, Glass Animals, to chat with me (the Christopher Gray of The Chronicle ) just before an album signing at the Cowley Road Truck Store the day after the release of their second album, How to be a Human Being . When asked under which category I might find their music, Dave Bayley, the band’s principal writer and producer, playfully suggests ‘pre-owned’ but is interrupted by keyboard and bassist, Ed Irwin- Singer who helpfully responds ‘alternative’ ie not fitting any other genre. Various magazine and newspaper articles and Wikipedia suggest psychedelic indie-pop while iTunes list the genre as electronica. Spotify avoid such labels but have found the band to be very popular (200 million downloads for their first album, Zaba ). To my seventies-educated rock-glam- pop-punk ears they have a distinctive style that is both mesmerising and maturing. While the band is garnering greater interest and success in the UK, they are huge in both Australia and the US where they sell out to thousands at their live gigs; the new album has leapt into the top 20 of the respective charts. Appearing at all the big UK festivals including Glastonbury, Reading/Leeds and on US TV (David Letterman’s The Late Show and

band got together in 2010 and sought the assistance of music master, Rob Hughes, who arranged for them to utilise the brand new Martyrs Pavilion over the summer. Virtually living there for days on end spawned their early work, gigs at the Jericho Tavern and eventually an EP, Leaflings , in 2012. The big break came when they came to the attention of producer, Paul Epworth (of Adele/ Skyfall fame), and signed to his new label, Wolf Tone. Another EP followed in 2013 including the single Black Mambo which formed the basis for their 2014 debut album, Zaba , co-produced by Dave Bayley and Epworth, with which they have toured the world for two years. Epworth remains executive producer and while all the band contribute creatively, it is essentially Dave who writes and has produced the new work. In the two days since the launch they have been in Brighton, London, Oxford and then off to Los Angeles. Do try them out and see what you think. Oh, and by the way, let us not overlook the fact that the aforementioned Truck Store is linked closely with OSE brothers Joe and Robin Bennett, the driving force behind the store and the annual Truck Festival in Steventon.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! ) they have most recently featured at the Wilderness Festival and, true to their roots, a ‘surprise’ gig at the Bullingdon in Oxford. They are not quite household names – yet at the time of writing ranked 23 in the BBC album chart – but neither do they take on any airs or pretensions and are genuinely pleased to see and hear support and plaudits for their work – from whatever source, be it music magazines – who seem to love them – or fans on Twitter and Instagram who decidedly love them! But what of their origins? All remain Oxford residents and were day boys at Teddies leaving the school in 2007 very well qualified and all off to university. Ed Irwin-Singer and Drew Macfarlane were music scholars with all the attendant involvement in orchestras, choirs and school bands and found themselves continuing together with further scholarships to Cambridge. The extent of collaboration at School was that Drew and Dave played a bit of guitar together but the university vacations found them all back in Oxford with time on their hands. Joined by drummer Joe Seaward (another Cowell’s man) the

18 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

FOCUS ON MUSIC

Tom Montgomery Where were you beforeTeddies? I was at New College School and was appointed Head Chorister in my last year. What House are you in and what are you studying? I am in Field House studying A Levels in RS, Music and History. What musical activities are you involved in at school? I am in the Chamber Choir, Chapel Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band and Brass Band. What other extra-curricular activities? I enjoy sport, particularly rugby. What has been your favourite musical commemorating the centenary of World War I. It was particularly poignant knowing that there are a number of plaques displayed in Chapel commemorating former pupils who gave up their lives for their country. What has been your favourite performance? Performing a solo at St John’s Smith Square in London. What are you most looking forward to about the new Music School? The new rehearsal rooms – and the space! Which teacher has had the biggest influence on your musical development? Mr Creed because he is enthusiastic, charismatic and encourages pupils to give of their best. Best advice you’ve ever been given at Teddies, musical or otherwise? Stay focused, determined and keep your sense of humour, especially in difficult or trying times. What music do you listen to in your spare time? I have quite an eclectic taste in music; anything from Bach to Led Zeppelin! The best thing about St Edward’s? It is very supportive and encouraging and strives to get the most out of everyone. What do you want to do after School? I would like to read Philosophy at university and then complete a Law conversion course to become a solicitor. moment so far at St Edward’s? Participating in the concert in Chapel

19 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

FOCUS ON MUSIC

Eva Cottingham-Mayall Where were you beforeTeddies? Cheam. What House are you in and what are you studying? I am in Mac’s, studying Latin, Greek, Maths and Chemistry for A Level. What musical activities are you involved in at school? This could take a while! Brass Band, Concert Band, Big Band, Trumpet Quartet, Orchestra, Chapel Choir, Chamber Choir, Close Harmony and Battle of the Bands in a band my friend and I set up! I have also participated in the Chapel Band and a couple of musicals. What other extra-curricular activities? Woodstock Group, Drama and Lyne Society (for Classics). What has been your favourite musical moment so far at St Edward’s? Listening to Mr Watkins singing the alto 2 part in ‘Faire is the Heaven’ by William Harris. What has been your favourite performance? The Bands’ Concert in April, when I was in everything but modern jazz. My favourite performance aside from music was His Dark Materials a few years ago. What are you most looking forward to about the new Music School? The new rehearsal room - apparently it is huge! Which teacher has had the biggest influence on your musical development? Definitely Mr Powell. Best advice you’ve ever been given atTeddies, musical or otherwise? Just trust your lip and always support. What music do you listen to in your spare time? I often listen to current choir and band repertoire. I don’t listen to very much modern music, but sometimes ‘Panic at the Disco’ or ‘Twenty One Pilots’. At home, I listen to my Mum’s music, such as Fleetwood Mac, Johnny Cash and the Kinks. The best thing about St Edward’s? So many opportunities to participate in everything and easily make a variety of new friends through these activities. What do you want to do after School? Firstly, I want to get a degree in Classics, hopefully at Cambridge. I actually want to be an actress, but if this does not work out, perhaps I’ll pursue a career in teaching Latin and Greek.