MUSIC BOARDING SCHOOL

Friendships

Boarders who are musicians support each other regardless of the various instruments studied in and beyond the houses in all the music facilities available throughout the school. Our boarders make the most of our common room areas, which come equipped with a TV and games console as well as activities such as table tennis and pool. They also enjoy our spacious gardens for barbecues, games and socialising with their friends throughout the day. The boarders in each house come together to take part in healthy inter-house rivalries in sport, drama, public speaking and other academic achievement.

Benefits of a Boarding School

Boarding allows our Specialist Musicians the opportunity to participate in our extensive number of musical activities and after-school clubs, keep up with homework, strengthen friendships and avoid a late journey home. Boarding also helps them gain a sense of personal responsibility, as they are given freedom within sensible constraints; from Year 7, small groups of pupils may go into Wells, Somerset unaccompanied. The city centre is just a few minutes’ walk from the boarding school houses, with numerous shops, banks, cafes and a twice-weekly market. For more information about boarding at Wells, please visit our Boarding page. 

Our Boarding Houses

All of our boarding houses have a piano and many of the houses have areas where their various musicians can store their instruments and practice in many different forms. Most of our houses have music practice rooms with pianos (some have four!), which boarders use regularly both individually and small groups. 

Music Practice Facilities

Boarders can practice in the many music buildings throughout the school. Practice rooms are open early in the morning before school starts, during the school day, after school, on evenings and over weekends.

Ensembles, Performances and Music Activities

One of the many benefits and joys of receiving a musical education at Wells is the opportunity to take part in weekly orchestral and ensemble rehearsals. We currently have over 80 ensembles of varying sizes and genres. In addition, we offer a variety of music activities ranging from weekly guest seminars to extra theory and composition clubs. Our musicians are of course also encouraged to attend as many of the professional recitals given in Cedars Hall, free of charge. Why take a coach to London when we can bring the music to our pupils? 

Performances are the culmination of hours of practice and training and therefore it is crucial that all our musicians are given suitable performance opportunities to enable them to learn and experience the ultimate goal of sharing and communicating their passion for music. There are more than 250 pupil performances each year, ranging from solo showcases and a lunchtime concert series to symphony orchestra and chorus concerts. For more information, please see our Specialist Music Studies page.

Being onsite makes it easier for our boarders to take advantage of more of these musical opportunities, not to mention the activities outside music, such as tennis, swimming, climbing club and fitness in our gym to name but a few!

Boarding for Choristers

Choristers often have early morning practice, evensong and performances over the weekends so being onsite cuts down on travel (with one particular bonus being a coveted longer lie in)! Boarding life gives them more time to have some fun together with activities outside of the choir, strengthening their friendships. The house members support Choristers and help them feel valued by going to the services – it is always heartening to see people you care about watch your performance!

From September 2021, Choristers receive 50% off of their boarding fees. For details on being a Chorister, please visit our Chorister page.