A highlight of the year, we enjoyed performances from Junior Wind Band, Saxidentals, Brass Ensemble and Concert Band. These ensembles include students ranging from Year 6 to Year 13. It was an incredible evening of TV Themes, the students performed brilliantly to such a high standard and ability. They should be really proud of themselves, we are!

Rock School is a fabulous part of our work and rehearses on a Tuesday. 55 musicians work in bands bringing together music they have selected and students learn how to work in teams - the bands, support each other and grow in confidence. It was a superb community at the gig this week where the standard of performance was an inspiration. Congratulations to everyone who performed, and thank you to everyone who came as audience. Without an audience, the gigs and concerts are nothing!!

With brilliant performances from Larch Strings, Year 2-3 Choirs, Year 4-6 Choirs and Larch Wind & Brass!

There were a variety of performances on Saturday night and it was an occasion to bring together our musicians through this fabulous music.

Performing is a vital part of being a musician. You, as the audience, are equally important! Every musician has something to show and for them this is their moment.

Thank you for your support and for helping us to create such wonderful music.

Videos from the Evening- click the top right hand corner to see the whole playlist

The foundations of so much of our music now starts in the Larch. Our Year 2 Strings Training Programme. 41 musicians (from Year 2) performed with such confidence, musicality and skill. They have been learning less than two terms. With funding from the Hertfordshire Music Service, this is a unique musical programme.

I cannot express enough how proud I am of the young musicians, starting out on their musical journey - for many, their first public concert. We are truly an all through musical school.

Big Band 2:

Malaguéna

Breezin'

Spinning Wheel

Big Band:

Young Hearts Run Free

Smooth

The Incredibles

Cry Me a River

Feeling Good (NYJO)

Walk the Dinosaur

Fever

Tank

Time After Time

Hey Laura

Absoludicrous

Skyfall

Whodunnit

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

In the Stone

Blame it on the Boogie

The Best

I Will Survive

Proud Mary

It Had Better Be Tonight

Knock on Wood

Walking in Memphis

I've Got You Under My Skin

Rosanna

Sweet Caroline

You Can Call Me Al

YMCA

"I really enjoyed performing in the Celebration of Brass concert as we got to showcase everything we had been working on and everyone was very supportive. It was great how it involved students from the larch all the way up to year 13 as it meant younger students could be inspired by the older ones and it shows that music is for anyone of any age. We played a variety of different genres of music including choral music,  classical, and a hip hop mash up, showing the audience that brass instruments are very versatile. The concert also showed all the brass instruments that are played at Simon Balle like the trumpet, trombone, tuba and the more unusual ones like the flugelhorn and the piccolo trumpet. I thought it was a very successful concert as everyone had worked hard in rehearsals and it definitely paid off and I heard many audience members say how much they enjoyed it. The highlight of the concert for me was performing a solo to the song tango final by Astor Piazzolla with the rest of the ensemble playing the backing. It was such an amazing experience as I had never done anything like that before and it was a lot of fun. I thought I would be nervous but I was totally absorbed in the music. It was great!"

May, Year 10