Music

Music is in our DNA. Every year we are privileged to welcome talented and committed musicians who come to Godolphin to explore music across diverse instruments and genres. We welcome all abilities and interests; whether your child is a beginner or has a string of grade eights - musical life at Godolphin will nurture their abilities to the full and help them develop an understanding of the important role music can play in their life.

Kathy Chalmers, Director of Music

There are five large ensembles at Godolphin and a large number of chamber ensembles.

Orchestra

First Year – Upper Sixth pupils who are grade 5 or above. Some instruments are more popular than others and it is sometimes necessary to hold auditions. If we know you are over Grade 5 we will usually invite you to join.

Concert Band

First Year - Upper Sixth pupils who are grade 5 or above on a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument. If we know you are over grade 5 we will usually invite you to join.

Senior Strings

For any talented string players. Membership is by invitation/audition.

Junior Orchestra

This is our junior orchestra and is conducted by our Head, Jenny Price. We expect any pupil in the First and Second Year and who is Grade 1 and above, or plays an orchestral instrument, to join this orchestra which meets on a Tuesday at lunchtime.

Chamber Music

Godolphin is recognised as a centre of excellence for chamber music and received an award recognising this in 2018. Chamber Music is very strong at Godolphin and there are a large number of ensembles providing opportunities for many instrumentalists. The majority of our chamber ensembles enter the Pro Corda Chamber Music Festival, regularly making it through to the semi-finals and national finals.

We have a flexible approach towards our ensembles, forming groups depending on the talents of particular cohorts of pupils. However the following ensembles tend to run every year:

Two Saxophone Quartets (Intermediate and Senior)

Intermediate Clarinet Ensemble

Clarinet Consort

Wind Quartet

Tutti Flutti (Intermediate flute ensemble)

Senior Flute Consort

Wind Quartet

Senior String Ensemble

String Quartets (Intermediate and Senior)

Scholars’ Trios, Quartets and Quintets

Scholars’ Brass Ensemble

Jazz Ensemble