Music

From Hark the Herald to Ella Fitzgerald, City's musical offering spans numerous seasons, genres, and abilities. Whether as a solo performer, part of an intimate ensemble, or a member of our senior orchestra or choir, students at City have access to vast and varied musical opportunities.

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Senior orchestra

The senior orchestra prepares major works from the classical repertoire and has various annual fixtures, such as the joint concert with CLS, accompanying leavers’ concert, the autumn concert and prize day. They have also toured various European concert halls. 

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Junior orchestra

The junior orchestra is made up of students from years 7 – 9. The junior orchestra focuses on film music and lighter classical works.  

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String ensemble

The string ensemble is a small group of advanced string players. They play a wide range of repertoire from advanced chamber music to arrangements of tangos. They perform in lunchtime concerts throughout the year, as well as in the Joint Chamber Music Concert with Freemen’s School and our outdoor ‘MOAT Festival’. 

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Senior choir

On top of collaborations with the senior orchestra for tours and performances in termly concerts, the senior choir has an annual fixture at the carol service, held in St Giles’ Cripplegate Church. Sixth formers also have the opportunity to collaborate with CLS on repertoire for male and female voices, in both classical and popular styles. All the choirs explore a wide range of repertoire and there are significant opportunities for singers of all levels, from those wanting to challenge themselves to those who sing simply for the joy of doing so. 

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Junior choir

The junior choir is for students from years 7 – 9 and will perform in the junior concert and carol service, as well as collaborating with the equivalent junior orchestra. 

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Chamber choir

The chamber choir tackles challenging repertoire and performs at concerts both in and outside the school. They have been involved in carol services around the City of London, busking events for charity fundraisers and in a performance of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ at the Royal Festival Hall. 

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Swing band

The swing band works on iconic songs from films and musicals. They perform in the Sing and Swing Concert and the outdoor ‘MOAT Festival’. 

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Jazz group

The jazz group is made up of students with an interest in traditional jazz repertoire, such as Miles Davis, Ray Charles and Herbie Hancock. They perform in the Sing and Swing Concert, as well as termly concerts. 

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Brass ensemble

The brass ensemble involves students from years 7-13. They perform in the Joint Chamber Music Concert with Freemen’s School and in lunchtime concerts throughout the year. 

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Chamber groups

There are lots of small chamber groups who receive coaching from specialist music teachers, including string quartets, piano trios, a clarinet quartet and a saxophone quartet. The small group sizes allow each ensemble to be flexible about their repertoire choices; some groups even perform new student arrangements or compositions. 

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Creative music group

The creative music group meets weekly, exploring different compositional devices using instruments and music technology. 

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Exams

The school supports ABRSM and Trinity music exams (practical, performance, and theory). The school offers classes in school to prepare students for upcoming theory exams. 

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Oxbridge scholarships

For students wishing to apply to Oxford or Cambridge, the department is able to support preparation for applications for choral and organ awards. 

Year 7 trip to the Tower of London

23 November 2023

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‘Here, what counts are ideas. And in the heat of adolescence, students can develop what they think and believe is important, often giving them confidence that will last a lifetime.’ Read @clsghead ‘s article in today’s @telegraph via the link in our bio.

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24 November 2023

Year 12 mathematicians had a great trip to the maths in action conference last week. Topics covered included Fermat's last theorem and transforming mobius strips, how MRI scanners function & how numbers determine which musical notes sound good together.

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