Specialist Music News

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...

10 May 2021

Bridget Awarded First Prize

Congratulations to Lower Sixth pianist Bridget Yee, who has been awarded first prize in the 15-17 age group category in this year’s online Junior Orbetello...

04 May 2021

Bristol Suspensions Crowned ICCA UK Champions

Congratulations to The Bristol Suspensions, directed by Old Wellensian Robbie Armstrong, who have been crowned UK champions of collegiate a cappella, and now go on...

04 May 2021

Hetta Through to Final Ten

Huge congratulations to Lower Sixth singer/songwriter Hetta Falzon, who has now been selected for the Final 10 in the Song Academy Young Songwriter 2021 competition,...

03 May 2021

Winner of Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition

Congratulations to Upper Sixth pianist, Sejin Yoon, who has been announced as one of the three winners in the Piano section of the prestigious Tunbridge...

03 May 2021

Inspiring Bassoon Masterclass

Thank you to David Hubbard, Principal Bassoonist of Scotland’s National Orchestra (RNSO) and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland tutor, for a fantastic masterclass day with Wells...

02 May 2021

Event on the Lawn Online

This year’s Event on the Lawn, our very own popular annual mini music festival, organised and performed by Wells pupils and showcasing many of our...

02 May 2021

Sam Wedgwood Provides Inspiration

Sixth form pupils studying A level Music Technology were treated to expert feedback on their creative work and inspiring career advice from esteemed media composer...

30 Apr 2021

Two Moors Festival Winners

The much anticipated Two Moors Festival Competition 2021 took place on Saturday 24th April in Taunton and Wells pupils were two of the five winners...

Flautists taking part in the Furstenau Challenge

30 Apr 2021

The Furstenau Flute Challenge

Saturday marked the final event for the ‘Furstenau Challenge’, a project that was set up by flute teacher Liz Walker to engage Wells pupils with...

National Youth Orchestra (NYO) performing

30 Apr 2021

National Youth Orchestra 2021

The following Wells musicians have been confirmed as members of the National Youth Orchestra 2021, and will take part in virtual performances:Brass: Luke Lane and...

Dawid Kasprzak, violin specialist, participated in the Menuhin Competition Richmond 2021

30 Apr 2021

Dawid Selected for International Menuhin Competition

Congratulations to talented Year 10 violinist Dawid Kasprzak, who was selected to take part in the First Round of the Junior Section of the prestigious...

27 Apr 2021

Meg to Play at Jelli Records Songwriter Night

Year 10 songwriter Meg Curl has been invited to play at the Jelli Records Singer Songwriter showcase on the 18th May with two other artists,...

26 Apr 2021

Koechlin International Flute Competition

The Koechlin International Flute Competition took place remotely throughout March and April, with competitors from 20 countries submitting recordings of their performances of the celebrated...

26 Apr 2021

British and National Youth Music Theatre Success

Congratulations to Year 9 pupil Nia Avenell, who has successfully auditioned for both the British Youth Music Theatre (BYMT) and National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT)...

22 Apr 2021

Two Wells Songwriters reach the Top 30

Huge congratulations to Hetta Falzon in the Lower Sixth and Megan Curl in Year 10, who have both been selected as Top 30 Finalists in...

22 Mar 2021

National Youth Orchestra Inspire Course

Congratulations to Year 11 flautist Emily Moores and to Lower Sixth violinist Rocket Brooks who have recently been selected to join the online National Youth...

16 Mar 2021

BBC Young Reporter 2021 Awards

Huge congratulations to Year 10 pupil Wilamena Dyer one of two regional winners in the South and West of England regions in this year’s BBC...

Vocal Performance at our Specialist Music School

16 Mar 2021

Vocal Department Performance Platform

On Sunday, Wells vocalists performed a triptyque Performance Platform Concert, split into three sections to allow the showcasing of our international vocalists currently based in...

Jan Cowell of Our Specialist Music School

16 Mar 2021

Recital Music Composition Competition 2021

Congratulations to two Wells Double Bassists, who submitted new pieces for unaccompanied double bass in this year’s Recital Music Composition Competition, which were then judged...

16 Mar 2021

Percussion Circle of Life!

Lower Sixth percussionist Juffy Yufei giving Year 4 pupil Shanna Fung her very first 4-mallet lesson!

10 Mar 2021

Spring Update – University and Music College Offers

With the physical return of the majority of Wells pupils to School for their onsite lessons this week, it is particularly uplifting to hear about...

10 Mar 2021

Woody Live on BBC Somerset

Year 8 pupil and enthusiastic composer, Woody Collins, recently created a lively and uplifting anthem Live Your Life! over lockdown, which was played live over...

Specialist Music School Drums and Percussion

09 Mar 2021

Bang the Drum for Change

Congratulations to Old Wellensian, Emily Gunton, on her inspiring front page article about women in the music industry in Monday’s The Guardian, which quotes our very...

12 Feb 2021

Baroque at the Edge

Lower Sixth Recorder Specialist Eliza Haskins gave a recital for the London based concert organisation ‘Baroque at the Edge’ in the second week of January....

04 Feb 2021

Over the Rainbow

We’re thrilled to share this beautiful recording of “Over the Rainbow”, performed by outstanding Wells Cathedral School Upper Sixth percussionist Stan Talman, which he is...

03 Feb 2021

Wells Cathedral School announces 50% off boarding fees for Choristers

Wells Cathedral School has today announced that all cathedral choristers will be entitled to a 50% reduction on boarding fees. The places will be offered...

Our Private Secondary School Hygiene & Safety

22 Jan 2021

This Week at Wells

We received results for the latest round of Trinity Instrumental and Vocal exams, and we’re delighted to say that 100% of Wells pupils gained a...

21 Jan 2021

Global Successes for Wells Pianists

Being in lockdown hasn’t prevented Wells pupils from triumphing in two major international competitions, performing from their homes.There was an astonishing level of success for...

06 Jan 2021

University and Music College Offers Update

As Wells pupils return to School for online lessons this week following the Christmas break, we are delighted that so many of our Upper Sixth...

08 Dec 2020

Christmas Concert

On Monday evening there was a beautiful live streamed Christmas Concert from Cedars Hall, as the community commenced festivities for the final week of the...

07 Dec 2020

Sixth Form Jazz Day

The Wells Academic Music and Jazz departments teamed up last week to deliver a full Sixth Form Study Day covering all of the jazz elements...

07 Dec 2020

CSA Composition Commendations

Congratulations to Year 8 pupil Woody Collins and to Year 9 pupil Harry Jordan, whose compositions for the Junior Section of this year’s Choir Schools...

07 Dec 2020

Old Wellensian Wins Gold Medal

Congratulations to Old Wellensian violinist Eleanor Corr, who has recently won the Royal Over-Seas League Gold Medal, and the £15,000 first prize in the Annual...

07 Dec 2020

Concerts Continue Apace

Over the final two weeks of term, musicians from across the school have taken part in a series of departmental concerts, held in Cedars Hall,...

07 Dec 2020

International Piano Competition Winner

Congratulations to Lower Sixth pianist Bridget Yee, who has just been awarded First Prize in the prestigious Putra International Piano Competition, in the Piano Concerto...

07 Dec 2020

Oboe Masterclass with Alan Garner

Last Tuesday Wells oboe players were treated to a day of masterclasses and an ensemble workshop with Alan Garner. Alan is the Principal Cor Anglais...

07 Dec 2020

Telemann Fantasia Concert

Wells flute and recorder teacher, Liz Walker played in an online Telemann Fantasia Concert last week, and was interviewed by BBC Radio 3. They can...

01 Dec 2020

Teatime Brass Concert

On Friday members of the Brass department enjoyed a splendid Teatime Brass Concert in Cedars Hall, live streamed for an appreciative audience.The diverse programme included...

01 Dec 2020

Virtual Musical Advent Calendar

The Choir and Organists of Wells Cathedral have spent the second lockdown recording plenty of music for online offerings during Advent. One of these projects...

30 Nov 2020

Wells Cathedral Advent Service

As usual, Wells choristers played a very active part in the Advent Service held in Wells Cathedral on 29th November. This year, the Service was...

30 Nov 2020

Friday Night is Symphony Night

On Friday evening Friday Night is Symphony Night returned for the first time since lockdown with a socially-distanced exploration of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. There...

30 Nov 2020

Beethoven the Revolutionary

On Friday afternoon Upper Sixth organist François Cloete led the Academic Seminar on ‘Beethoven the Revolutionary’, celebrating Beethoven’s 250th birthday with a presentation and discussion...

30 Nov 2020

Award for Scottish Ensemble

Congratulations to Wells violin teacher Jo Green and her 12 player-strong Scottish Ensemble, who won the Royal Philharmonic Society 2020 Ensemble Award ‘for sheer quality...

30 Nov 2020

Virtual Recorder Concert

Wells recorder players were invited to perform alongside their teacher Tabea Debus in a virtual lunchtime concert for the ‘Society of Recorder Players’ Somerset Branch.Almost...

18 Nov 2020

Concert Series Continues at Cedars Hall

Despite the restrictions of covid-19, musicians at Wells have been actively involved in a number of high quality performances across the whole musical range over...

11 Nov 2020

Last Post Trumpeters Perform in the Community

Despite many of this year’s local Remembrance Services being cancelled due to COVID-19, Wells trumpeters have still managed to perform The Last Post and Reveille...

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