01 Mar 2025
Talented pupils from a group of primary schools across the St Albans district came together for a unique music workshop day recently.
They enjoyed rehearsing and performing with children from the wider community, before playing in a live musical concert for parents, arranged and staged in just one day.
Hosted by St Albans School, the live learning experience welcomed around 35 musical pupils from five different schools including four local primary schools, Maple Primary, Oakwood Primary, Redbourn Primary, Alban City School and Aldwickbury Prep School.
Upon arrival, the pupils were placed into three groups: strings, woodwind and brass, and percussion, before being coached by the music teachers and scholars at St Albans School, alongside the school’s visiting teaching musicians.
Showcasing a diverse mix of musical experience, the pupils played various instruments from the cello, violin and viola to the flute, trombone, trumpet, clarinet, drums, French horn, piano and electric guitar.
After lunch, the pupils enjoyed a junk percussion session where they had the opportunity to make music using discarded household items as musical instruments.
Next, everyone came together for a full orchestra rehearsal in the school hall in preparation for a concert performed to parents at the end of the day. The concert included an array of pieces performed by the string orchestra, concert band and the full orchestra.
Director of Music at St Albans School Tom Young said: “It was wonderful to see the pupils’ enthusiasm as they worked together in teams to put on a fantastic musical concert for parents. What they created in just one day was incredible and testament to their hard work.
“The event itself was also a great way for the local pupils within our wider community to make new friends, learn from each other and experience life in the music department at St Albans.”
Anna Stevens, director of music at Aldwickbury School, said: “We really enjoyed the day, our pupils have been telling their friends and teachers about it with great enthusiasm. Thank you for what must have been quite a feat to organise!”
Karen Dore, music teacher at Alban City School added: “The eight children I brought with me had an absolute blast, and the whole event was a thoroughly enriching experience for all involved. It was an absolute joy to see children from different schools making new friends and enjoying making music together in a large orchestra.
“The young musicians worked incredibly hard in their sectional rehearsals in the morning, with a shared goal of putting together a fantastic group performance at the end of the day for their families. Music really has a wonderful ability to bring people together in the local community.”
