Busy Day

What a busy day!  We started at St Thomas' Church, singing at the Year 7 and 8 Christingle services and then we headed to Ravenswood Residential Home.  We sang for 45 minutes to the residents and carers - it was lovely, but ever so hot.  Afterwards, we went back to school and were fortunate enough to open the Good Old Days this evening, singing carols at our school's senior citizens' Christmas party.  Just two more Christmas events to go - what a busy few weeks we have all had!

Amazing Christmas Concert

What an amazing night!  The children were fantastic.  Soloists, duets, small ensembles, Year 7, choir, carollers, and orchestra alike - all worked so very hard.

The day was stress-free and calm - the children were super all day and worked well towards putting the finishing touches to their music.  The afternoon concert was as lovely as that which was presented in the evening.

Parents and staff all enjoyed the children's performances, and it was especially lovely to see more and more students in the audience.

Success at Sainsburys

The children were superb today and they have raised just over £190, thanks to the fantastic support of the shoppers at Sainsbury's in Newcastle.  The £190 will be put towards the school's Gambia Appeal fund.  Their beautiful singing (and smiley faces) encouraged the shoppers to part with their hard-earned cash in exchange for some festive cheer.  We were really proud of them.  It was great that so many parents, aunts, uncles, siblings and grandparents were able to pop by and say "hi".  Mr Rushton and Miss Milne were very grateful for the accompaniments put in by Hannah Brown and the harmony lines from Mr Cross, Mr Winter and Miss Graham.

A mixture of secular and sacred Christmas songs and carols were shared by the children with the people of Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Only five sleeps ...

... Until the Christmas Concert is finally upon us. The children have worked really hard and would love to 'show off' their music to you. Please get your tickets from reception - £5 adults and £3 concessions.

Fantastic carolling today

The carollers went to Maryhill Day Centre today and lead the residents in community singing, and what a fantastic job they did too.  The residents were clearly in the festive mood and they joined in - some of the ladies and gentlemen were brilliant singers (one gentlemen had previously been a member of the Biddulph Male Voice Choir) and our children were in awe of the lady who sang the descant for The First Nowell.  The children and the senior citizens alike really enjoyed the afternoon, for very similar reasons.  We look forward to sharing our music over the remainder of this festive season.

Residents' Association Performance

 The carol singers were out in force on Tuesday 4th December, performing at the Clough Hall Residents' Association meeting.  The girls were tremendous and their hard work earned a £30 donation to the school's Gambia funds - fantastic - our heartfelt thanks must go to the Residents' Association for their very kind donation.

Have a look at a couple of the videos, taken by Courtney, which show the girls performing at Hollinwood Close Sheltered Housing, where the meeting of the Residents' Association took place.

Carols in Kidsgrove

The children turned up smartly and in fine voice on Saturday morning bright and early.  We sang at the opening of the Kidsgrove Victorian Christmas Market - a lovely experience.  As we left to walk to Tesco, the lovely lady representing Tesco at the market gave us a big bag of fresh cookies to share - they were very welcome.  When we got to Tesco, the Newcastle Foodbank volunteers were busy collecting food for people who will have nothing this Christmas.  We were amazed by how generously people were donating.  Our children all went and spent a pound to donate food to the charity as well.  We sang a great many carols and really enjoyed ourselves - we all feel very festive now.  Special thanks from all of the children, Mr Rushton and Miss Milne go to Hannah, Dr Norris, Mrs Norris, Mr Winter and Miss Graham who joined in with beautiful four-part harmony and with stunning keyboard accompaniments!

Come and see us the children perform this week at the Clough Hall Residents' Association meeting at Hollinwood Sheltered Housing on Tuesday 4th December, starting at 7.45pm. (Children to meet there by 7.15pm).  The children will also be singing at Maryhill Day Centre on Thursday 6th December in the morning, spreading festive cheer.

Sat 1st Dec - Carollers

Saturday's arrangements are as follows:

Meet at the Town Hall (Victoria Hall, Kidsgrove) at 9.40am in full school uniform.

We will sing there and then walk down to Tesco for 11am. 

We should be done by 12.30pm and you will be "free to go" - parents to collect from Tesco, Kidsgrove please.

Rehearsal Schedule - until 7th Dec

Right guys ... here is the rehearsal schedule from now until the concert (there may be a couple of "extras", but at the moment, this is how it stands):

Thurs 28th Nov - lunch: theory club

Fri 29th Nov - p3: all carollers and choir members
Fri 29th Nov - lunch: choir

Mon 3rd Dec - lunch: carollers (41), wind band (40)
Mon 3rd Dec - after school: orchestra

Tues 4th Dec - p3: all instrumentalists
Tues 4th Dec - lunch: brass ensemble (44), flute choir (41)

Wed 5th Dec - p4: all Year 7 singers
Wed 5th Dec - after school:  orchestra

Thurs 6th Dec - lunch: theory club

Fri 7th Dec - lunch: carollers

Orchestra working hard

Some of our orchestra have sporting commitments at this time of year, so half of the orchestra meets on a Monday and half on a Wednesday at the moment (some even make both rehearsals!). We are busy putting finishing touches to a number of pieces ready for the concert at the moment.

Carollers practising hard

Our carollers have been working really hard for their début this coming weekend.

The children are looking forward to their performance at Kidgrove's Victoria Hall, and at Tesco in Kidsgrove also.  Why don't you come along and support the children and see the fruits of their recent hard work.

Christmas Preparations

Well ... the Christmas preparations are well and truly underway.  The choir débuted during the Remembrance Assemblies - and their performances were very popular indeed.  There are lots of events which are upcoming.  Maybe you might like to support some of our students over the coming few weeks at one of our exciting events:

School Christmas Concert
WEDNESDAY 12TH DECEMBER in the school hall at 7pm
Come and join us
Tickets available from the school reception (01782 783 281)
£5 for adults; £3 for concessions

Carollers
Come and see them perform in the local community:
Saturday 1st December - 10am : Kidsgrove Victorian Christmas at the Town Hall
Saturday 1st December - 11am until 12.30pm : Tesco, Kidsgrove
Tuesday 4th December - 7.45pm : Clough Hall Residents' Association, Hollinswood Close
Thursday 6th December - 11.30am-12.15pm : Maryhill Day Centre
Monday 10th December - 10am-2pm : Sainsbury's, Newcastle
Wednesday 12th December - 7pm : School Christmas Concert - at CHTS
Monday 17th December - 11.30am : Ravenswood Day Centre
Monday 17th December - 3.45pm-4.15pm : Good Old Days - at CHTS
Thursday 20th December - 11.45am-12.15pm : School Christmas Lunch for local community - at CHTS
Thursday 20th December - 2.15pm-3pm : Residents' and Parents' Drop-in - at CHTS

Final preparations

Final preparations have been underway for choir to do their first performance of the year. The girls have been busily preparing to sing the Military Wives' Prayer, "Wherever You Are". They will be singing it in the Remembrance Assemblies on Tuesday 6th and Thursday 8th November. We were really pleased to welcome Mr Spink to today's rehearsal to help us out. Mrs Norris is joining us to sing the 'floaty' high notes.

Orchestra "headline" at CHTS open evening

Orchestra and a few soloists really did show off what music is all about at the open evening at school last night - they were keen to show how well they can already play "Yellow Bird". Well-received by all, it was a great way to show how music really is an important part of life at Clough Hall.

Summer Recital

Flute Choir - starting the whole recital evening

This year's instrumental lessons came to an end this week.  Many children have this year achieved pass and merit awards in their instrumental examinations with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.  The hard work put in by the children and their instrumental teachers was celebrated on Tuesday 3rd July at the Summer Recital - a showcase of the progress made over the course of the year (indeed, many parents commented on the improved musical quality).  Some of the students' performances are shared with you here.

MM just checking
that Miss Rice was
ready to play!

MD performing
one of her
Grade 4 pieces

There were performances by staff volunteers and the instrumental teachers also performed duets as part of the recital.  Student performed solos, duets, trios and in small ensembles. 

At the end of the recital, many students received their ABRSM examination certificates; these were presented by their instrumental teachers.  The certificates were accompanied by a report, written by Dr Boyer who conducted the examinations.

The audience really enjoyed the evening, and the hard work of the children and of their instrumental teachers was appreciated by all.

WG and KP performing their "Franco-Welsh"
duet with Miss Spencer

There were many soloists throughout
the recital evening.

Violin Ensemble

AP performing one of his Grade 8
pieces; he is hoping to read Music
at Keele next year

We owe an extra special thank you to Mrs Adlington for taking lots of photos on the school camera!

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to the Music @ CHTS  blog.  We are busy preparing for next academic year, but before we get there, there is just time to fit in the end of year "Summer Recital".  Students will be showcasing their solo work - many will be performing pieces from their recent ABRSM examinations.  Students were incredibly successful.  


This year's instrumental teachers (the first cohort of the Keele University-CHTS Fellowship partnership).  The instrumental teachers, other than Miss Rice, will all graduate and leave school next week.  They have done phenomenally well in their studies, and their contribution to the wider school life at CHTS has been great.


Our Summer Recital starts at 7pm in the school hall tomorrow evening.  We look forward to seeing you there.