Abbs Cross School and Arts College

Abbs Cross School, Commitment to Opportunity and Excellence

Music

The Music Department of Abbs Cross School and Arts College:-

  • Has a 100% A – C pass rate of KS4 pupils following the BTEC and GCSE courses.
  • Has a Dance Band which has been running for 20 years and has played for H.M. Queen Elizabeth II, Tony Blair, Ruth Kelly and the Mayor of Havering.
  • Has played a leading role in the awarding of ARTSMARK GOLD to the school and is recognised by the Arts Council of England as having a high quality of arts provision in the school.
  • Teaches over 150 instrumental lessons each week which includes the teaching of: Cello, Classical Guitar, Clarinet, Cornet, Double Bass, Drumkit, Electric Guitar, Flute, Oboe, Percussion, Saxophone, Singing, Trumpet, Trombone, Violin
  • Has a very high pass rate, with many pupils being awarded a merit or distinction, in Associated Board or the Royal Schools of Music and Trinity College, London instrumental exams.
  • Encourages pupils to participate in music competitions including the National Festival of Music for Youth every year and the Havering Young Musician of the Year competitions. As a result of this encouragement Abbs Cross School was a Dome Performer for the Year 2000 and the school has produced the Havering Young Musician of the Year, the Havering Junior Musician of the Year and prize winners in these competitions.
  • Has a variety of ensembles which pupils can belong to, these include: brass ensemble, clarinet ensemble, choir, dance band, saxophone ensemble, string ensemble, wind band, and the school production orchestra.
  • Has opportunities for pupils to perform in a variety of musical events including, the Christmas event, Battle of the Bands, Spring Music festival, Young Voices event at the O2, Summer concert, the annual school production and assemblies.
  • Has a recording studio and two music rooms which contain interactive whiteboards, keyboards and computers which run the same software that many professional musicians use including Cubase and Sibelius.
  • Has a good technical crew that provides light and sound for school productions.
  • Creates opportunities for pupils to perform on tour in other countries. Pupils have represented the school in tours of Austria, giving concerts in the Hellbrunn Palace, Salzburg, Town Hall, Radsadt; Kongresshaus, Badgastein and Pergola, Berchesgaden: pupils have toured the Lake Geneva area of France/Switzerland giving concerts in Geneva, Morgin, Thonon and the Jazz Festival Stage, Montreux; pupils have toured the Venice area in Italy giving concerts on the Lido, Venice; in Lido di Jesolo, Cavallino Carorle and on the shores of Lake Garda. Most recently, Abbs Cross pupils have been invited to perform in concert at Shanghai.

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