IMAGINE

AT LORETO MUSIC

“ The college is imbued at every level with a culture of high aspirations and expectations.” Ofsted

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CONTENTS

A LEVEL MUSIC

MUSIC COMPETITIONS

INSTRUMENTAL STAFF AND GUEST VISITING ARTISTS

THE MUSIC PROGRAMME

OPPORTUNITIES

MUSICAT LORETO

Music is an integral part of the student experience at Loreto. The department itself houses state-of-the-art facilities, including three recording studios and a 188 capacity performance theatre. Loreto students also perform at a range of venues across Manchester including RNCM and Band on the Wall.

The department offers all students a chance to experience music in a broader context.

An established programme of music activities combined with a busy schedule of concerts and performance opportunities appeal to a range of interests; from DJs and producers, to orchestral musicians and composers. There are regular performance opportunities taking place most weeks in college including Community Tuesday and Thursday lunch performances.

In addition, the department has strong links to other music and educational institutions, runs its own record label, stages an annual musical production and runs a concerto competition and a composition competition every year. Many students across the college also complete ABRSM exams and receive one-on-one music tuition.

INSPIRING STUDENT

Hannah Beech is a former student of Fairfield High School for Girls. She is currently studying A level Music, Drama and Theatre, and History at Loreto. Hannah is a talented musician who has performed with Loreto’s orchestra and many other Loreto groups at venues across the city including the RNCM and Band on the Wall. Hannah is also a member of Loreto’s High Achievers’ programme.

“Coming to Loreto and working with the Music Department has been absolutely amazing. I take five enrichments in Music; I have formed a band and made a brilliant group of friends. I have no regrets about coming to Loreto. The High Achievers’ programme is a good challenge, my teachers are lovely and it makes it worth the daily commute!”

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ONE-TO-ONE LESSONSAll students who study A level Music are entitled to 30 minutes of one-to-one instrument/voice lessons a week, paid for by Loreto. In addition, all A level Music students get weekly supplementary composition lessons with the college’s resident composer. Loreto has a fantastic relationship with its local community and all students perform numerous times during the year at local primary schools and care homes.

A number of our students are members of the Hallé Youth Orchestra and Hallé Youth Choir and take part in concerts and workshops throughout the year; some of our students enjoy going to Junior RNCM. Students are encouraged to take up places on music summer schools, and Loreto students appear frequently on the Purcell School and the Lake District Summer Music

courses. Loreto hosts the Cambridge University Music Hub, designed for those looking to apply to study Music at competitive universities.

All students studying A level Music and Rockschool qualifications will have the opportunity to be entered for ABRSM theory and instrumental graded qualifications.

PROGRESSIONAt Loreto, we are very proud of all our students’ musical accomplishments, including the many students who have recently gone on to study at some of the most prestigious institutions in the country, including New College Oxford, RNCM and Trinity Laban.

2017 Loreto Composition Prize winner Toni Bruce is currently studying Music at the University of Leeds.

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A LEVEL MUSICDuring our study of the A level syllabus, we believe in practical-led analysis of set works and areas of study, so much of our time in class is spent with instruments in hand or singing. We take a multi-disciplined approach to composition, where students are given a variety of group and individual composition tasks, using both improvisatory methods and more formal notation-based models.

ROCKSCHOOL MUSIC ENRICHMENT QUALIFICATIONSAt Loreto, we are offering a unique opportunity to study music qualifications through a bespoke enrichment programme that can sit alongside your other subject choices.

ROCKSCHOOL BANDIn Rockschool Band, you will be given weekly ensemble rehearsal sessions where you will be individually coached and taught effective working practices for a career as a professional musician. The bands will be given gigging opportunities, as well as the option to enter into graded Rockschool Band examinations.

ROCKSCHOOL MUSIC PRODUCTIONIn Rockschool Music Production, you will learn a wide range of music production and sound recording techniques required to create modern Pop, Rock, Urban, and Electronic genres, all using Logic Pro X software within our specialist iMac suite. Students will be given the opportunity to study for pleasure, or enter into a graded examination at the end of the year.

These subjects would be suitable for those students who play an instrument or have interest in music production. Studying the qualification to levels 6, 7 or 8 will accrue UCAS points.

MORE INFORMATION AT WWW.LORETO.AC.UK

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MUSICCOMPETITIONS

LORETO COMPOSITION PRIZEThis year’s winner of the Composition Prize is Bob Koropisz, who composed a choral setting of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem ‘I heard the bells on Christmas Day.’ The world premiere of the winning entry took place at Loreto’s Christmas Mass at the Hidden Gem in Manchester.

ST CECILIA CONCERTO COMPETITIONNovember 22, St Cecilia Day, saw the third Loreto Concerto Competition. This annual event for talented instrumentalists has grown in prestige and popularity, and this year six hopeful soloists competed for the prize. Friend of the college Jonathan Fisher, staff pianist at the RNCM, had once again agreed to act as judge for the evening, and all participants were accompanied by Loreto piano tutor Silvia Lucas. Jonathan commended Bob Koropisz’s playing of a trumpet piece by Haydn, noting the attention to detail and stylish phrasing. Flautist Milana Bout moved up and down the scales with silvery

aplomb in her rendition of Concerto in A minor by Blavet, whilst violinist Lilah Bell played JS Bach with real projection and shape. Saxophonist Emily Whitehurst’s delivery of a piece by Binge was full of character, and Edmund Lam, playing Piano Concerto No 1 by Mendelssohn, displayed clear textures and sparkling virtuosity. There has to be a winner, of course, and this year the honour fell to clarinet player Christopher Hardy, whose delivery of a piece by Weber managed to be both sensitive and forceful, displaying lyricism and control, and an impressive range of tonal shades. Christopher went on to perform the award-winning piece at the Loreto Easter Concert at the RNCM.

CHRISTOPHER HARDY BOB KOROPISZ

The Music Department runs two competitions, the St Cecilia Concerto Competition, for virtuosic instrumentalists, and the Loreto Composition Prize, for aspiring composers.

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INSTRUMENTAL STAFF ANDGUEST VISITING ARTISTSOur dedicated team of peripatetic staff boasts a current working knowledge of the music profession, with many of them undertaking numerous performances and recordings every week, from national and international tours to local gigs and concerts. All A level Music students receive 30 minutes of one-to-one specialist instrumental or vocal tuition.

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GUEST VISITING ARTISTS

G JONATHAN FISHER GUEST JUDGE OF THE ST CECELIA CONCERTO COMPETITION 2017-18Jonathan holds positions at The University of Huddersfield as Pianist-in-Residence and the RNCM as Staff Pianist, where he is also Artistic Director for the RNCM’s Day of Song.

G DR LARRY GOVESDr Goves is a composer based in the UK. He currently teaches composition at the RNCM and is composer in residence at Royal Holloway University of London. Larry is also the composition tutor for the National Youth Orchestra.

G DR JOHN ANDREWSDescribed in The Observer as a ‘tremendous young conductor’, Dr Andrews is Conductor-in-Association of the English Symphony Orchestra, and currently works with The BBC Concert Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra.

I JONATHAN GUY WOODWINDJonathan performs with Opra Cymru, the Immix Contemporary Music Ensemble, and the NEW Sinfonia.

I SILVIA LUCAS PIANOSilvia regularly gives recitals nationally and internationally and is studying for a PhD in piano performance at RNCM.

I ALEX JOHNSON PIANO AND KEYBOARDAlex performs at various events regularly with bands and artists around the country.

I IAN JONES DRUM KIT AND PERCUSSION TUTORIan has been a professional freelance drummer since 1990, gaining a wealth of knowledge and experience as a performing musician.

I GRAHAM SOUTH BRASSGraham works with orchestras such as the BBC Philharmonic, Manchester Camerata and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and in a jazz context is a member of the multi-award winning Beats & Pieces Big Band.

I BRIAN MCNAMEEVOICEBrian is an Irish lyric tenor and graduate of the RNCM. Recent and upcoming engagements include Northern Ireland Opera, The Xi-an Symphony Orchestra in Xi-an, China, Reisopera in The Netherlands, and Opera North. He is the assistant Musical Director of the Omagh Community Youth Choir, with whom he has toured internationally.

I JAMIE WALLACE GUITARJamie has taught at a variety of Manchester’s respected music institutions, whilst his performance credits include Guy Garvey (Elbow), Jesca Hoop, and Plan B.

I CHARLOTTE TREPESS VOICECharlotte has worked with a range of professional opera companies including Opera North, as well as choirs including the BBC Singers and the Eric Whitacre Singers and performed guest/backing vocals with various bands including James, Clean Bandit and Boy George.

I GAVIN BARRAS DOUBLE BASS & BASS GUITARGavin records extensively and features on albums by DJ Shadow, Bonobo and Matthew Halsall. With Halsall he has played jazz festivals in Berlin, London, Brussels, Rome, Johannesburg and been featured by DJs Jamie Cullum and Gilles Peterson.

I DEWI TUDOR-JONES STRINGS TUTORDewi works with orchestras around the country including Hallé, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Northern Sinfonia and Opera North, as well as working extensively as a chamber musician and soloist.

I JENNIFER DYSON WOODWIND TUTORAs a soloist, Jennifer has given recitals in the North West of England and the Midlands to great critical acclaim. She has performed various concertos with symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra and wind orchestra in the UK and abroad.

MORE INFORMATION AT WWW.LORETO.AC.UK

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THE MUSIC PROGRAMMEEvery student can get involved in the huge range of music enrichment activities available at Loreto, including performing in the college orchestra, choir or bands at a range of venues across the city including Hallé St Peters, RNCM and Band on the Wall!

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRARepertoire ranges from classical symphonies and suites to famous film scores, as well as backing music for pop songs. The Symphony orchestra also accompanies the winner of the annual St Cecilia Concerto Competition at the Easter concert.

STRING ORCHESTRAConsisting of the college’s string players, the ensemble’s repertoire includes numerous Baroque and classical arrangements and performs every year at the MANCEP Shakespeare Festival playing Shakespeare-inspired music.

FUNK COMBOThis group plays at a number of events during the year, the highlight being the end of year gig at Band on the Wall. A tight outfit of horns, rhythm section and vocals, they play anything from Motown and pure 70s funk up to more contemporary soul covers, such as Jessie J.

WIND ENSEMBLEOpen to all wind players. Performing a wide variety of repertoire and rehearsing weekly, usually during lunchtime. Among their numerous performances, the Wind Ensemble performs every year at Manchester Town Hall and on the college TV station.

BANDS NETWORKGuitarists, drummers, bassists, vocalists and anyone else wanting to form and play in bands meet each other early in the year and guide their own musical interests. Performance opportunities include Gorilla and Deaf Institute.

BRASS ENSEMBLERepertoire includes a mixture of classical transcriptions and more modern popular arrangements, from Gabrieli to Gershwin, Beethoven to The Beatles.

MUSIC RECORDING AND PRODUCTION SKILLSThis regular weekly tutorial develops your producing skills, giving hands on experience in using the latest software to create your own tracks. You will have the chance to feature your tracks on the Loreto College Radio, as well as releasing your track on the college record label: E&K records.

BIG BANDClassic line-up of saxes, trumpets, trombones and rhythm section performing a selection of swing and jazz standards, occasionally with guest vocalists. This group features in a number of performances and recordings throughout the year.

CHAMBER CHOIR20-piece choir with repertoire that mostly consists of a cappella choral works - from Monteverdi to Britten. It makes numerous appearances at high profile events throughout the college calendar, at venues such as the Hidden Gem and RNCM.

PERCUSSION GROUPComprises the drummers and percussionists of the college and tackles both pitched and unpitched material, mixing classical and minimalist works with samba and more modern styles.

POP CHOIRLarge Choir (male and female) that is open to all. Repertoire includes popular chart songs, gospel, show tunes, Glee numbers, student compositions, a capella arrangements, and solo numbers. Often accompanied by orchestral backing.

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BAND ON THE WALL

THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR MUSIC MAKING AT LORETO

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BARBERSHOP GROUPSmall vocal group specialising in close-harmony a capella songs. We have both male and female close-harmony groups, which often choose and arrange their own material.

LORETO PIANO CIRCUSInspired by the British six hand piano group, the pianists of Loreto join together to form eight, six or four hand ensembles to explore repertoire, embed ensemble skills and have fun playing music! The main eight hand group performs on two dovetailed grand pianos at the Easter Concert every year.

Y13 JAZZ COLLECTIVEThose musicians leaving at the end of the year get the chance to have artistic control over a 45-minute set at Band on the Wall, directing musicians, choosing and arranging repertoire and performing on the famous stage!

CHAPEL CHOIRThis is small consort of singers (12), who provide poignant music for important masses throughout the year. Recent mass settings include those by Faure, Gabrieli and Gregorian plainchant.

FOLK MUSIC GROUPThis is a mainly student-led group which perform for a variety of events during the year, the highlight being fund-raising performances celebrating St Patrick’s Day.

OPERA CHORUSA select group of singers form annually for the MANCEP Shakespeare Festival to perform extracts of operas inspired by the Bard’s works, such as Verdi’s Macbeth and Purcell’s Fairy Queen.

MUSIC THEORY SUPPLEMENTARYSessions are open to all students at the college. ABRSM Grade 5 Theory is mandatory for any Lower Sixth Music students who do not hold the qualification on entry to Loreto, and Grade 6 Theory (either ABSRM or LCM Popular Music) is mandatory for any Upper Sixth Music students. For those looking to pursue Music at HE, there are Grade 7 & 8 Theory sessions and exams (ABRSM or LCM). Loreto College enters students (and pays fees) for Grade 5 Theory and above.

THE COLLEGE MUSICALAn annual production that is extremely popular and has sold out for the past five years running! You can audition for a part on stage; there are non-dancing and non-singing parts too. The pit band is a very important and rewarding ensemble of which to be part. There is also the opportunity for an Upper Sixth student to take on the role of Assistant Musical Director or rehearsal accompanist.

Hear a selection of student composition and performances. Visit soundcloud.com/loreto-music-programme

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MORE INFORMATION AT WWW.LORETO.AC.UK

Contact Information

Loreto Sixth Form CollegeChichester Road SouthManchester M15 5PB

Tel: 0161 226 5156Email: office@loreto.ac.uk

www.loreto.ac.uk

E&K RECORDS Loreto College’s record label, established in 2012, releases compilations of student compositions and productions created outside of the course. The releases have been a huge success with thousands of streams. The tracks are created, mixed, and mastered by the students themselves, giving them the opportunity to develop a diverse range of skills desired within the industry.

Check out the tracks. Visit: soundcloud.com/ekrecords

OPPORTUNITIES LORETO.AC.UK/MUSIC

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY MUSIC HUBS PROGRAMMELoreto College is one of the two UK centres for the Cambridge University Music Hubs Programme. Talented students from across the North West attend Loreto for the series of bespoke workshops and seminars that are written by the University’s academics to help prepare students for undergraduate study. The programme culminates with a residential course at Cambridge where students get a taste of what it is like to attend one of the world’s most prestigious education establishments.

PERFORMANCES The music department provides many different performance opportunities in college. Students and staff perform live music twice a week in the college cafeterias and social spaces. Regular charity performances also take place, including Breast Cancer Awareness Day. The foyer of Ellis and Kennedy building became a pop-up concert featuring the staff ukulele band with a rendition of ‘True Colours’, the student jazz band played the pink panther theme, the choir sang hits by Pink and the cast of Legally Blonde (the college musical) in their pink legally blonde t-shirts performed songs from the show ahead of their December production.