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General Music making is a particular feature of the College with a strong emphasis on involvement. All Junior School pupils aged eight and nine learn an instrument as part of their curriculum. The three full-time musicians on the College staff run choirs, orchestras and chamber groups. Parents, staff and friends are annually welcomed as members of the Choral Society for the performance of a major Choral Concert: Programme of English Music - 2007 Haydn - 'The Creation' - 2006 Rutter - 'Gloria' and works by Parry - 2005 Fauré - 'Requiem Mass' - 2004 Bach - 'St Matthew Passion' - 2003 Mozart - 'Requiem Mass' - 2002 Mendelssohn - 'Elijah' - 2001 Handel - 'Messiah' - 2000   Instrumental Ensembles The College encourages pupils to share their musical talents by playing in ensembles and there are plenty to choose from. The flag ship ensemble is, of course, the main orchestra which performs to a very good standard. Other ensembles include a Junior Orchestra, 2 bands, 2 saxophone ensembles, two string orchestras, 4 string quartets, 2 woodwind ensembles, two trumpet ensemblesand a piano trio.   Choirs There is a strong emphasis on choral singing and the College has 5 choirs for pupils to join. The Chapel choir leads the services and sings an anthem in the College Chapel each Sunday. Various other Choral Ensembles meet at various stages of the year for specific events. This year the Chapel choir enjoyed a very sucessful tour to Normandy.    Pupils' Concerts Every term there are several opportunities for pupils to perform in concerts. Each winter term there are no fewer than five concerts with the main emphasis on individual performance. The spring term usually sees an Ensembles concert and this provides a focus for all the groups mentioned above and more. Some of the concerts are quite formal occasions providing our experienced musicians with a chance to perform but, as important, are the rather less formal occasions in which some of the pupils will perform for the first time.   Concerts and Recitals The College takes every opportunity to encourage pupils to hear music at its best. To that end we have recently launched a new concert series. See our calendar page for more information.   Facilities The College enjoys excellent facilities for music in a purpose built department which was opened in 1989. The Recital Room is a light, airey room with an ideal acoustic for a small recital. The theatre provides a larger venue for bigger occasions. The College Chapel has an excellent accoustic, particularly for choral singing and many choir performances take place here. The music department adjoins the Theatre enabling the Recital Room, which has a coffee bar, to be used for play intervals. There is a well-equipped recording studio and music technology is studied to A level.