Specialist Music News

08 Dec 2023

Music Department receives donation of conducting scores

The Music Department is delighted to have received a significant collection of conducting scores from Dr Colin Hammond. Dr Hammond visited the School on Wednesday...

BBC Young Chorister of the Year Competition 2023 Tricia Yourkevich WCS Wells Cathedral School Independent Prep Somerset England

04 Dec 2023

Belinda wins BBC Junior Young Chorister of the Year 2023

We are absolutely delighted to announce that Year 8 pupil Belinda Gifford-Guy has won the 2023 BBC Young Chorister of the Year competition (Junior category).The...

27 Nov 2023

Henton Village Hall Jazz concert

The Jazz Orchestra and Senior Jazz Combo presented a concert at Henton Village Hall on Saturday 18th November to raise funds for the modernisation of...

27 Nov 2023

Double bass masterclass with Leon Bosch

Prep School double bassists joined their Senior School counterparts for a masterclass with Leon Bosch on Monday 20th November. Leon was overjoyed to spend quality...

27 Nov 2023

Musical Extravaganza

The first Musical Extravaganza of the year was a triumph. A full Cedars Hall heard a huge range of music showcasing pupils across the whole...

27 Nov 2023

Chris Jagger workshop

On Saturday 18th November, local rock legend Chris Jagger treated pupils to a workshop on songwriting and ballad singing before his evening concert in Cedars...

27 Nov 2023

Injury prevention and rehabilitation talk

The Sports Department presented the first of a series of lectures designed to be beneficial to all those participating in sport, physical activity or performing...

27 Nov 2023

Wells remembers

Across the School, Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday were marked on 10th-13th November. Pupils in the Prep School attended a Remembrance Service in Cedars Hall...

Jāzeps Vītols International Piano Competition WCS Wells Cathedral School Independent Prep Somerset England

27 Nov 2023

Jāzeps Vītols International Piano Competition

Two Old Wellensians have been awarded prizes in this prestigious competition which was held in Latvia in October. Julian Chan (2018) and Mykyta Burzanitsa (2019)...

27 Nov 2023

Piano masterclass with Ian Fountain

Our international piano masterclass series continued in October with a visit from Ian Fountain, concert pianist and professor of piano at the Royal Academy of...

27 Nov 2023

Sophie is offered choral scholarship

During the half Term break, Sophie Harbridge (Upper Sixth) travelled to Hereford Cathedral for a gap-year choral scholarship audition, which she was subsequently offered immediately...

27 Nov 2023

British Trombone Society Awards

Many congratulations to Trombone teacher Tom Lees and Year 11 pupil Morgan Bland who have been named as winners of the Teacher of the Year...

02 Nov 2023

Picture This

The Symphony Orchestra presented four concerts titled Picture This in October. Matinee performances of Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev, narrated brilliantly by Woody Collins...

18 Oct 2023

John Kenny Music Seminar

Trombone virtuoso John Kenny wowed our pupils, performing his own contemporary solo work La Belle et La Bête in Music Seminar. The piece uses extended...

18 Oct 2023

Piano masterclasses

This year’s series of international piano masterclasses started with visits by two distinguished artists. American pianist Richard Goode, widely revered as one of the world’s...

18 Oct 2023

Cherubim Music Trust present cello

We were delighted to welcome Michael Maxwell Steer, chairman of the Cherubim Music Trust (a local charity which loans instruments to promising pupils and young...

10 Oct 2023

Suzie Collier masterclass

It was a pleasure to welcome internationally-acclaimed teacher, violinist and conductor Suzie Collier back to Wells in October. Suzie shared her incredible energy and dynamism...

09 Oct 2023

Seminar for Music and Sports Specialists

We were delighted to hold our first seminar for both Music and Sports Specialists on Monday 2nd October and welcomed tennis coach Kevin Durney who...

02 Oct 2023

Lunchtime Concerts return

We have been delighted to restart our Lunchtime Concerts, an important opportunity for our specialist musicians to perform their solo repertoire. Doors open 15 minutes...

02 Oct 2023

Percussion concert with Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

On Thursday 21st September the Music Department welcomed Percussionists from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC) for a lively evening of playful Percussion. The collaboration was...

02 Oct 2023

Belinda is a BBC Young Chorister of the Year Semi-Finalist

Congratulations to Belinda Gifford-Guy (Year 8) who has reached the Junior Semi-Finals of the BBC Young Chorister of the Year competition! Belinda will be competing in October...

18 Sep 2023

Musicians enjoy busy summer

Musicians achieving great things does not stop when our buildings close for the summer. Our talented pupils keep playing, performing and experiencing!As ever we can...

01 Sep 2023

Laetitia Stott joins Wells Cathedral School

We are delighted to announce Laetitia Stott as the new Head of Music Performance.Head of Performance is a brand new role that will expand the...

10 Jul 2023

OW performs at Glastonbury Festival

OW Hetta Falzon (2022) was selected for one of the highly coveted Wild Card slots on the Rumshack stage at Glastonbury Festival, a five-day festival...

10 Jul 2023

ARSM Trombone diplomas

Congratulations to Morgan Bland (Year 10), Théo Daniell-Greenhalgh and George Winter (Lower Sixth) – all three boys achieved a Distinction in their ARSM Trombone diplomas....

10 Jul 2023

Keyboard concert

Eight specialist pianists gave a fine concert for a large audience, including many of the Friends of Music, in Cedars Hall. Their ages ranged from...

10 Jul 2023

Musicians perform at Mayor’s inauguration

On Saturday 20th May our musicians performed at the inauguration of the Mayor of Wells, Mrs Tanys Pullin. Emma Steenkamp (Violin, Year 10), accompanied by...

10 Jul 2023

Senior Jazz Combo at St George’s, Bristol

The Senior Jazz Combo (known as the ‘Jazz Disciples’) performed at St George’s, Bristol, as part of their popular Swing concert series. The group performed...

10 Jul 2023

Annie fundraises for Marie Curie

Annie Banks (Lower Sixth) presented a full recital at St Michael’s Church in Bishop’s Stortford to raise funds and awareness for Marie Curie. Annie planned...

10 Jul 2023

Music masterclasses

On Thursday 15th June we were very fortunate to welcome recorder player and improviser Robert de Bree for a day of masterclasses and workshops. Robert...

19 Jun 2023

Cello and piano diploma celebrations

A group of musicians have just received their well-deserved diploma certificates. Congratulations to Luca Wiseman (ATCL Cello, Year 9), Harry Jordan (LTCL Cello, Year 11),...

19 Jun 2023

Music workshops in the Prep School

Year 10 pupils studying the Wells Specialist Music Certificate gave two workshops in the Prep School during which they demonstrated their instruments by playing arrangements...

19 Jun 2023

NCO Projects Weekend

Our Prep School musicians enjoyed another fantastic National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain (NCO) Projects Weekend in Birmingham, working with conductor Rob Hodge. The theme...

19 Jun 2023

Revekka is Principal 2nd violin in National Youth String Orchestra

Congratulations to Revekka Konstantinou (Year 11) on her place as Principal 2nd violin in the National Youth String Orchestra. Well done, Revekka!

19 Jun 2023

Year 10 musicians visit Reception class

Year 10 musicians on the Wells Specialist Music Certificate course visited the Pre-Prep on Friday 19th May, showing off their instruments, instrumental skills and chatting...

26 May 2023

Celebrating a doubly “Excellent” ISI Inspection

We are delighted to announce the publication of the latest report from the Independent Schools Inspectorate.The School has been awarded the highest possible grade of...

Helsinki Wells Cathedral School WCS Independent Prep Somerset England

26 May 2023

Music trip to Helsinki

On the weekend of 5th-9th May, six of our Lower Sixth specialist musicians, Christy Hui, Dawid Kasprzak, Jeremy Tan, Luke Doyle, Rania Dereka and Wilamena...

23 May 2023

Early Music concert

Congratulations to pupils who performed in the Early Music Concert on Wednesday 17th May. The audience was treated to music by Bach, Telemann, Purcell and...

23 May 2023

Meg’s local performances

After her performance on the Cathedral Green Stage at the King’s Coronation Celebrations in Wells, Meg Curl (Lower Sixth) met Mr Mohammed Saddiq, the Lord-Lieutenant...

23 May 2023

Woody’s feature on BBC Radio Somerset

Woody Collins (Year 10) made an appearance on BBC Radio Somerset to discuss his performance on the Cathedral Green Stage at the King’s Coronation Celebrations...

09 May 2023

Kit’s orchestra experiences

During the Easter holidays, cellist Kit Cookson (Lower Sixth) took part in sectional rehearsals in Cardiff as a member of the National Youth Orchestra of...

09 May 2023

An inspiring and thought-provoking afternoon on careers in Music

Cedars Hall was full of our young musicians on Thursday 27th April to hear presentations on very different musical career paths given by Sophie Lewis,...

01 May 2023

Pop Showcase Concert

A host of talented pop musicians took part in the Pop Showcase Concert in Cedars Hall in April. With an impressive range of acts from...

01 May 2023

Dawid’s performance at Arthur Grumiaux international violin competition

Congratulations to Dawid Kasprzak (Lower Sixth) who won 2nd prize at the Grumiaux International Violin Competition in Brussels, Belgium. This is one of the leading competitions in the world for violinists,...

01 May 2023

Soho and Bibi win first prize

Congratulations to Soho (Year 4) and Bibi Redford (Lower Sixth) who were both awarded first prizes in their respective age categories in the Newport Rhode Island International Piano Competition...

01 May 2023

Music Technology trip to Rockfield Studios

Ten Sixth Form Music Technology pupils participated in a trip to Rockfield Studios (South Wales), famous for seminal recordings of Black Sabbath, Robert Plant, Queen,...

Mid-Somerset Festival Wells Cathedral School WCS an Independent Prep in England

24 Mar 2023

Mid-Somerset Festival 2023 Results

Once again, our musicians turned out in force to participate in The Mid-Somerset Festival, and took home a huge number of major awards.This highly competitive...

22 Mar 2023

RCM trip

The Wind, Brass and Percussion Departments enjoyed a visit to the Royal College of Music (RCM) on Monday 13th March. The trip included the opportunity...

22 Mar 2023

Defne’s earthquake charity concert

After witnessing the devastating scenes following the Turkish earthquake, Defne Anar (Lower Sixth) was determined to raise money for the Red Cross appeal, and took...

22 Mar 2023

Lily’s Cherubim Music Trust recital

Specialist Flautist Lily Owens (Year 11) performed a recital at London’s Savile Club for the Cherubim Music Trust who have pledged to support her in...

Promenade Concert Wells Cathedral School Independent Prep Somerset England

22 Feb 2023

Promenade Concerts

The Epiphany Term saw the return of our ever popular Promenade Concert series in Wells Cathedral.We were delighted to share this year’s Brass and Percussion...

14 Feb 2023

Percussionist performances

The School’s Percussionists have had a very busy Term, performing in both the Brass and Percussion Promenade Concert and this week’s Early Music Promenade Concert....

14 Feb 2023

Charlie joins Rodolfus Choir

Congratulations to Charlie Temmink (Lower Sixth) who has been awarded a place in the Rodolfus Choir. The Choir was founded by Ralph Allwood MBE in 1984 and is a critically...

14 Feb 2023

Songs from the Shows

A bumper crowd in Cedars Hall were treated to a captivating concert of West End favourites! Showcasing the vocal and dramatic talent of pupils from...

01 Feb 2023

Trinity ATCL Diploma Piano Examination Successes

Congratulations to Lucille Raynal (Year 9) and Elizabeth Massey (Year 11) on completion of the Trinity ATCL Diploma Examination on the Piano. Lucille was awarded...

09 Jan 2023

Symphony Orchestra Rehearsal

The Symphony Orchestra met in the evening of the first day back at School of 2023 to begin work on the epic Symphony No. 2...

WCS Orchestra Wells Cathedral Independent School Somerset England

13 Dec 2022

Wells Cathedral School Musicians Celebrate National Recognition

A large number of musicians will be representing Wells Cathedral School in national-level ensembles and choirs this year, both in the UK and beyond.Five pupils...

Dame Evelyn Glennie WCS Wells Cathedral Independent School Somerset England

29 Nov 2022

Dame Evelyn Glennie Hosts Percussion Workshop and Concert

We were delighted to welcome Dame Evelyn Glennie to Wells on Saturday 26th November.Dame Evelyn is the first person in history to create and sustain...

Stuttgart Concert WCS Wells Cathedral Independent School Somerset England

28 Nov 2022

Stuttgart Exchange

The Music Department were delighted to welcome 44 pupils and 4 members of staff from the Eberhard-Ludwig-Gymnasium in Stuttgart, a Specialist Music School very similar...

15 Nov 2022

Cory Brass Band Workshop

On Saturday 12th November, members of The Cory Band, European Brass Champions 2022, were joined by over 50 young Brass players from 29 different schools...

Dr Sarah Upjohn WCS Wells Cathedral Independent School Somerset England

11 Nov 2022

Dr Sarah Upjohn Gives Wellbeing Talk To Musicians

As part of our commitment to the wellbeing of our pupils and of our young musicians, Dr Sarah Upjohn visited the School to give a...

09 Nov 2022

Wells Winds Perform in Cardiff

The Vicar’s Close Wind Quartet and Wells Double Reed Ensemble performed in Cardiff alongside ensembles from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama for...

BBC Young Musician Category Finals Strings Brass Violin French Horn 2022 WCS Wells Cathedral Independent School Somerset England

13 Oct 2022

BBC Young Musician 2022 Category Finals

The BBC Young Musician of the Year category finals, featuring violinist Dawid Kasprzak (Lower Sixth) and French Horn player Imogen Moorsom (OW 2022), have been...

26 Sep 2022

Lunchtime Concerts Launched By GMAs

Quilter Hall held the first of many lunchtime concerts taking place throughout the academic year, beginning with a concert by the School’s new GMAs. Mr...

Luke McCarthy Scholarship Wells Cathedral Independent School Somerset WCS

05 Apr 2022

Luke Is Awarded Royal Academy of Music Scholarship

Congratulations to Luke McCarthy (Upper Sixth) who has been awarded one of the two available scholarships to study at the Royal Academy of Music funded...

International Women's Day WCS Independent School Somerset

11 Mar 2022

International Women’s Day Music and Talks

In celebration of International Women’s Day, our pupils put on a fascinating evening of music and talks. The construction of the programme and even the...

Wells Specialist Music School and Royal College of Music (RCM) performing together

04 Feb 2022

Side-by Side Performance with RCM

Wells brass and percussion pupils enjoyed an inspiring day of side-by-side rehearsing and performing with students from the Royal College of Music (RCM), including a...

Morgan - trombonist at our specialist Music School in the UK

31 Jan 2022

Morgan Features on Radio 2

Well done to Morgan Bland, a Year 9 Specialist Trombonist, who featured on Top Brass presented by James Morrison on Radio 2 on Sunday evening!...

Joe Tong, piano teacher at our Specialist Music School in Somerset

24 Jan 2022

Piano Teacher Joe Tong Plays on BBC Radio 3

One of our Piano Teachers, Joe Tong, played pieces by Sibelius and Schumann live on BBC Radio 3 this week. He was joined by his...

Woody from our Music School on BBC Radio

14 Jan 2022

Woody Features on BBC Somerset

Last night, Woody Collins, Year 9, featured on BBC Somerset Radio during the ‘Big Band Quiz’ with Luke Knight from 7-9pm. He was interviewed and his new song ‘Memories‘...

Specialist Musician at Wells Cathedral School, Hetta reaches final of the Pilton Stage Competition, to perform at Glastonbury Festival

07 Jan 2022

Hetta Reaches The Pilton Stage Finals 2022

Congratulations to Hetta Falzon (Upper Sixth) who won heat 2 of The Pilton Stage 2022 competition on New Year’s Day, putting her through to the...

Specialist Musician Mila, semi finalist, of BBC Young Chorister of the Year 2021

08 Dec 2021

Mila is Runner up in Young Chorister of the Year

We’re thrilled that Wells Cathedral School pupil Mila Tsoneva (Year 10) has finished second in the hugely prestigious BBC Young Chorister of the Year competition.For...

03 Dec 2021

OW Kizzy Brooks Returns as Percussion Teacher

Wells Cathedral School is delighted to announce the appointment of Old Wellensian, Kizzy Brooks, who is thrilled to return as a Percussion Teacher working with...

09 Nov 2021

New Director of Music

The Governors and Head Master of Wells Cathedral School are delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Alex Laing as the new Director of Music.The...

Hetty, a brass musician at our Specialist Music School, performed for the Malcolm Arnold Centenary

08 Nov 2021

Malcolm Arnold Centenary Celebrations

Well done to Hetty Christopher, Year 11, for her superb performance of Malcolm Arnold’s Fantasy for Solo Trumpet. It was an honour to be part...

Cole, a pupil at our independent school in Somerset, won a Future Talent Award

08 Nov 2021

Future Talent Worsely Award Winner

Cole Craggs, Year 7, was awarded the 2021 Future Talent Worsely Award, worth £3000 and three years on the Future Talent development programme, which aims...

Wells Symphony Orchestra - Specialist Music School in the UK

15 Oct 2021

Symphony Orchestra Concert: Lights! Camera! Action!

Our Symphony Orchestra had its first concert of the academic year ‘Lights! Camera! Action!’ with performances on both Wednesday and Thursday. They gave beautiful performances...

08 Oct 2021

BBC Young Chorister of the Year 2021

We are thrilled to announce that Year 10 pupil Mila Tsoneva has reached the televised semi-finals of the hugely prestigious BBC Young Chorister of the...

06 Oct 2021

Masterclass with Conductor Chloé van Soeterstède

We were delighted to welcome back acclaimed conductor Chloé van Soeterstède to Wells last Friday for an afternoon on Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite, following her...

24 Sep 2021

Concerto Final Winners 2021

Vivian Kao (Upper Sixth), with her beautiful rendition of Barber’s Violin Concerto, won our recent Concerto Final on Saturday, which took place in front of...

23 Sep 2021

Outstanding Harp Performance

Well done to Michael Dey (Year 6) who scored a quite amazing 148 out of 150 in his ABRSM Grade 1 Harp Performance exam. This...

21 Sep 2021

Wells Cathedral School Seeks Director of Music

Wells Cathedral School – one of the world’s leading music schools – is today announcing the search for a new Director of Music.Wells is a...

16 Sep 2021

Friday Night Symphony

We were thrilled to see the return of “Friday Night is Symphony Night” last week, with around 50 pupils coming together to give a performance...

10 Aug 2021

Wells Pupils Celebrate A Level Results After a Challenging Year

Wells pupils celebrated impressive results and the successful attainment of well-deserved places at University and Music Colleges with a Champagne Breakfast held by the School...

Independent School Somerset Music Year 12

30 Jun 2021

Young Songwriter Winner 2021!

We are thrilled and extremely proud to announce that talented Lower Sixth songwriter, Hetta Falzon, has won this year’s prestigious Song Academy Young Songwriter 2021...

29 Jun 2021

The Jazz Picnic

This year’s Parents’ Association Jazz Picnic took place with a limited pre-booked audience in the Marquee on Cedars Lawn – a fabulous way to celebrate...

Independent School Somerset Specialist Music

29 Jun 2021

Friday Musical Discovery Showcase

Wells musicians enjoyed an action-packed day of musical discovery last Friday, the final Friday Music Seminar of this School year. Outgoing Academic Music Captain, Francois...

Private School Somersey Specialist Music Year 10

24 Jun 2021

Wilamena Features in Music Teacher Magazine

Year 10 pupil Wilamena Dyer is featured in the July edition of Music Teacher Magazine, alongside Jayne Obradovic, Wells Head of Student Experience and Well-being...

24 Jun 2021

Popular Music Showcase

Wells musicians presented a series of inspiring performances last Sunday at the Popular Music Showcase.A big thank you to Tim Walker and his team for...

24 Jun 2021

First Prize for Abbie

Congratulations to Upper Sixth violinist, Abbie Chan, who has won first prize in the USA Classical Music International Competition held in May 2021 by International...

22 Jun 2021

Celebration Concerts in Wells Cathedral

Last week, Wells musicians from across the music faculty put on two splendid concerts to mark the musical reopening of Wells Cathedral.After a year without...

22 Jun 2021

Mozart Opera Gala Rehearsals

Rehearsals have been taking place in Cedars Hall for the Mozart Opera Gala, which will be performed to a limited audience on the evenings of...

21 Jun 2021

Jazz Evening

Last week’s Jazz Evening showcased the talents of jazz players and small group jazz from across the School. Introduced by Coordinator of Jazz Studies Edward...

Independent School Someset Music Specialist Songwriter

10 Jun 2021

Hetta Reaches Final Three!

Huge congratulations to Lower Sixth singer/songwriter Hetta Falzon, who has been selected for the Final 3 in the Song Academy Young Songwriter 2021 competition, for...

09 Jun 2021

SALSA BRASS GO!

Young brass players from 65 Schools across the UK and Europe have taken part in Wells Cathedral School’s free online project Salsa Brass Go!The inclusive...

Private School Music Scool Competition Winner

09 Jun 2021

Haslemere International String Competition Winner

Congratulations to Year 10 violinist Dawid Kasprzak, who has just won joint First Prize in the Junior Category of the Haslemere International Online String Competition...

07 Jun 2021

Nordic International Piano Competition Special Prize

Congratulations to Year 11 pianist Jeremy Sun, who was awarded a Special Prize for the Best Performance of a Nordic Piece in the Junior Talents...

17 May 2021

Young Organists’ Competition Winner

Congratulations to Upper Sixth musician François Cloete who has won the Advanced Class of the School Organists’ Association Young Organists’ Competition, and a financial prize.The...

13 May 2021

Shona to Play in Billy the Kid

Congratulations to Upper Sixth musician Shona M’gadzah, who has been selected to play tenor saxophone and clarinet in a National Youth Musical Theatre London West...

11 May 2021

Woody on BBC Radio Somerset

Year 8 pupil Woody Collins has composed a new song ‘Molecules’ alongside a music video, which will be featured on Luke Knight’s Arts and Culture...

SPECIALIST MUSIC NEWS

Read our Latest 'In Touch'

Keep Up To Date

News Filter