We are in our Autumn Concert season. Performances every week for the next few weeks - it will be great to see families and friends supporting our musicians!

Performances are a time to celebrate, away from exams and academic pressure! They demonstrate team work, concentration, enjoyment and more. They bring families together, they bring joy to so many. We have high expectations with our rehearsals and concerts, we do ask that everyone embraces our Team Music ethos. We aim to make every concert an occasion - an event to celebrate and remember.

Musicians who are performing should know what to do and what to wear, so we come together as one - Team Music. You can always ask questions if you are unsure.

Simon Balle Music is incredible. Together, we create amazing music. Now is the time to celebrate our amazing music! Come and hear what has been happening!

Mark Taylor
Director of Music
Simon Balle Music and the Laurel Education Trust

Our annual Christmas Carol Services at All Saints Church are around the corner! Year 11 Musicians should be able to continue with rehearsals during the mocks - a time to relax from the revision! Likewise, instrumental teachers work around exams so lessons can continue during December - every year students cope so well with this. The services are an important event for our school community and an annual tradition!

Our main concerts for the Spring Term are taking shape. We are looking to have a 'festival' where we have the Simon Balle Concert Orchestra and Chorus Prom, followed by An Evening with the Simon Balle Big Band. Full details will be out shortly.

It is also great to see how many students are taking advantage of Early Morning Practice - before school from 8am. This is such a useful time to progress as a musician, before the pressures of the day have started. I heartily recommend musicians, especially our more advanced musicians, take up this valuable opportunity. Practice is essential for progress!

I must also thank our colleagues in music who are working at Mill Mead Primary School as part of the Laurel Education Trust. We are supporting musical learning across the school and it is fabulous to help inspire more musical students!