MUSIC DEPARTMENT BUILDING unveiled
It has been a very busy summer in the Music Department! First, we have finally opened our newly refurbished building, the result of several years of planning and fundraising as well as over six months of construction.
We are now fully operational, with a completely new roof under which we have three brand new pianos, our harpsichord finally out on display, seven fully functioning practice rooms (each with its own piano or keyboard as well as soundproofing), and a classroom filled with 15 new iMac computers and all the latest music technology.
None of this could have happened without the extremely generous support of the Terwick Trust and the Mousetrap Settlement Trust, whose support has been critical in allowing us to undertake such an ambitious project.
All of these facilities allow our students to learn firsthand how the music industry today functions, from classical performance right through to high-tech music production. While there remain a few small outstanding areas of work, such as putting in our new windows and a ramp to the front door, it is a joy to welcome students to such a high-quality, purpose-built centre for music on campus.
Aside from the excitement around the new department, we have been extremely lucky to welcome John Reynolds as our new Teacher of Woodwind. John brings a wealth of experience, having previously been the Head of Woodwind at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, and the Head of Woodwind at the Royal Northern College of Music before that. He has also worked as an examiner for the ABRSM for decades, and brings a phenomenal level of understanding not only of his own instruments, but also of music education in general. It has been a pleasure to get to know him, and we were delighted to hear his debut as a performer at UWC Atlantic’s 60th anniversary event on 1st October.
On that note, we spent most of the start of term preparing for a variety of performances on the day. These included a string ensemble formed of professional musicians playing alongside students, a selection of piano students playing solos, a samba band formed of the second-year music students, a student-led rock band, the student-led a cappella group, and several ensembles made up of our own instrumental teachers.
It was a day to remember for many reasons, but we were excited to be able to show off most of our own teaching staff as performers alongside our students.
While the last several months have been an incredibly exciting time, we are hoping for a somewhat quieter few months ahead as we settle into our new facilities and begin to plan our next large-scale events.
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