Music Groups

Opportunities for making music together plays an important role in a boy’s character development. All ensemble have regular opportunities to perform and there are regular orchestral projects giving developing groups the opportunity to combine with more experienced players.

These music groups play a vital role in the musical life of the school. They form a high point of music-making to which all boys in their individual instrumental and singing lessons aspire; they help to form rounded musicians through the team aspect of group playing.

SHS Singers – This advanced group is open to experienced and committed singers from all year groups. Boys experience choral and technical training from the Director of Music. Much of the repertoire is drawn from the British choral tradition, with a good mix of more popular styles.

Symphonic Wind Band and Concert Band – Boys work on a varied repertoire ranging from film score transcriptions to original works for band. Both bands are run by the notable composer and woodwind teacher James Rae.

String Ensemble and Junior Strings – Our premiere string group is the string ensemble, while the junior strings provides opportunities for boys of all abilities to perform together.

Jazz One – This is the school’s premiere big-band. This flagship group performs regularly at prestigious events and experiences a thorough grounding in many jazz and rock styles.

In addition to the above, we have brass groups, guitar groups, percussion groups as well as theory training classes. All our music groups are run by our full time music staff or our visiting music staff who are of the highest quality, and all professionals in their own right.