Simon Balle All-through School

Please take time to listen to, share and celebrate the recording from our musical celebration at Saffron Hall.

What we have in Simon Balle Music is unique. Incredible and off the scale in quality. Team Music is, quite simply, fabulous. The dedication that everyone has is, wow!

I must thank everyone in the team at school - teachers, support, leaders and more. Wow. Wow. Wow. What other school can fill the Saffron Hall with 800 of a musical community? 300 performers. Incredible. Memories for life.

Thank you to everyone for your support in the past 12 months. Team Music continues to go from strength to strength. We look forward to working with everyone in September!

Mark Taylor, Director of Music.

A triumphant return to the Hertford Corn Exchange was made last night by our 12 or so bands performing to a sweaty and packed house.

It is easy to get lost in the speed in which we work, forgetting the brilliant community we have at Simon Balle. Families, former students and more celebrating our amazing bands. For many, the first time they have been at the Corn Exchange. For others, a chance to showcase their work again in this venue we have not been at for a number of years.

Having students working in bands is always hard work - choices of music, who wants to work with who and so on. What was very clear last night is that when it works, it comes together in spectacular style. Musicians supporting each other across year groups in a way that is an inspiration to see. The inclusive nature of our work. The confidence being developed, the pride in the faces of families.

Such a brilliant evening! Take time to celebrate and say 'well done'. These are life building lessons - teamwork, resilience, hard work. It all came together so well last night. Oh, and the music team working with Rock School are fabulous.

Over the last three weeks, there have been 112 Trinity Music Exams at Simon Balle Music including Trinity Classical/Jazz and Trinity Rock & Pop.

Students have worked really hard to pass their exams, and what they have achieved amongst the other opportunities at Simon Balle is exceptional! So many distinctions, so many Grade 8's yet every achievement is as a result of hard work from everyone across Team Music.

58% Merit

24% Distinction

Wow!

Please click on the images to see the results! Well done everyone!

London College of Music Diplomas. (DipLCM).

Some of our most advanced musicians take these as their final celebration at Simon Balle. This year we had 5 once again - time after time we are told this is totally unique for any school. They are music conservatoire standard performance exams, way beyond Grade 8.

Sophie (flute), Barney (Drum kit), Lucien (Drum kit), Eva (Vocals) and Luca (Electric Guitar).

All now have DipLCM after their names.

Luca's was the first of this instrument in the country, as the diploma was created at my request. I cannot explain clearly enough how incredible an achievement this is. The team is utterly inspirational and has an amazing growth mindset for so many musicians, understanding their individual needs, challenging them in such a musical way, taking them out of their comfort zone.