King Edward's Music

Three concerts, two days, 11 ensembles! See below to find out what our music ensembles performed at the Christmas Concerts on Sunday 10th and Monday 11th December.

Have a lovely Christmas from the Music Department!

Our Carol Service will be happening tomorrow at 19:30 at St Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham, where KES Choir will be singing Christmas songs and accompanying the congregation in traditional carols. All are welcome, and tickets are not required.

Our Christmas Concerts will be commencing this Sunday with 11 of our ensembles performing!

We were treated to some wonderful performances from our drummers, percussionists, and vocalists yesterday evening!

Below is the Percussion Ensemble performing ‘Plot’ by James Campbell.

Tomorrow night, Wednesday 6th December, is our first ever Instrumental Evening Showcase; a programme of highlights from our 5 different Instrumental Evenings this term. The evening starts at 6pm in the Ruddock Hall.

Here is tomorrow’s programme for our Lunchtime Recital tomorrow lunchtime in the Ruddock Hall. Free admission, with no tickets required.

We commenced this year’s This Is Our Voice partnerships project at Hillstone Primary School last Wednesday 22nd November with our first workshop for teachers. 7 schools are taking part this year, which has a focus on introducing children to Stravinsky’s The Rite Of Spring; the KES/KEHS Symphony Orchestra will be performing the work this year. Thank you to Dr Leigh and Mr Farr for conducting the workshop.

Last Monday 20th November, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire invited our Big Band to open their Jazz Orchestra’s concert. The Big Band played some classic numbers, including Green Dolphin Street and When You’re Smiling; the latter, featuring pupil Eve on vocals. Thank you to Mr Hill and Mr Smith for working with the band in the lead-up to the event, thank you to the Conservatoire for having us, and thank you to Mr Ash for the photos!

On Friday 17th November, three chamber groups of KES and KEHS students performed at the Elgar Concert Hall as part of the University of Birmingham’s Concert Series. The repertoire featured Beethoven’s Wind Octet, Weber’s Clarinet Quintet, and Juon’s Piano Sextet; all of which were mature and high calibre performances. Well done to all who took part and thank you to Mr Ash for the photos.

Tickets are available online for all at: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/events-calendar/rbc-jazz-orchestra-benny-carter-20-11-2023

Our annual Barber Recital will take place tomorrow at the Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall Music Building, University of Birmingham at 13:10.

Well done to our performers in last night’s recital! Below is a photo of one of the three chamber groups who performed.

Here is our 37-strong Guitar Orchestra rehearsing Danza Venezuela by Vincent Lindsey-Clark for the Guitar Instrumental Evening which happened on Monday.

Well done to one of our Shell pupils, Yang, who played wonderfully at the recent Foundation Ceremony.

Please see below for the programme for this evening’s Guitar Instrumental Evening.

We were, again, treated to a variety of music of a high calibre at this Lunchtime Recital; with the music of Beethoven, Hummel, Paganini, Gary Ryan, and Franz Doppler, being played on the piano, trumpet, guitar, and flute. Well done to all those who performed.