Mrs Annie Boehm • Music and Arts Administration Officer
SENIOR SCHOOL
Getting to know ...
Mrs Annie Boehm • Music and Arts Administration Officer
Annie started work as the Music and Arts Administration Officer late in Term 2 , bringing with her years of experience from a similar role at Wesley College . Annie has made lots of positive changes in the arts and music areas and has many new ideas to help promote music and the arts and help raise the profile of the Arts Faculty to the wider community .
I love music – lots of different genres – because it makes me feel good , taking me to a different place and giving me energy . I am also intrigued by the theatre and how it changes our perspective through the ideas that are bounced around on the stage , using words and movement .
Every morning , as I climb the stairs to my office , past the Rock Studio , I never know what I am going to hear ! For the first part of the walk it might be a Led Zeppelin piece , but as I continue up the corridor it might be music from Pirates of the Caribbean that is streaming from the Eric Palmer Studio ! I don ’ t need to bring my music with me , it ’ s right here where I work , every day !
To work with staff in the Arts is fabulous ! After spending a hard day teaching , they morph into performers at night , almost like they have an alter-ego , dashing off to rehearsals , playing in bands , performing at corporate events , or performing in the orchestra pit whilst Georgie Girl , Grease or Oliver are played out on the stage above them . I love their energy , their craziness , their passion and their different take on life .
One of the best , most rewarding things about working in a school is seeing the way students change , grow and mature . What a privilege it is when you see a student who has been going through a difficult personal time , or who has struggled with academic classes , or is very shy and doesn ’ t have many friends , change through music and performance . Honestly , it never ceases to amaze me and always brings a tear to my eye . I feel so proud when I see what a difference music can make to a person ’ s life and outlook .
At the end of the day , our goal in the Arts Faculty is to engender a love of the Arts in all students , allowing them to express their thoughts and ideas in a different realm to their normal day-to-day activities . They are learning a life skill , and using a different
Mrs Annie Boehm
area of the brain . It ’ s all about spending time ‘ jamming ’ with friends , learning to sing with no inhibitions , performing in front of thousands of people , practising and practising to try and achieve perfection , getting that shiver going down your arms when you strike a beautiful harmony , just giving it a go , and most importantly learning to listen to each other .
Let ’ s hope our Guildford students take this love of the Arts with them , using it to enhance their lives and sharing their passion with others . That ’ s all we can ask .
An audience with Martin Chatterton
Several English classes were fortunate enough to meet Martin Chatterton , a well-known author and illustrator of both children and adult literature . Some of his work includes the best-selling series Middle School ; Mort ; Little Horrors and Bad Dog .
Martin spoke to the students about finding inventiveness in cosmopolitan cities such as Liverpool , embracing the flaws of other people and most importantly how to laugh at yourself . Each class had several laughs as Martin drew caricatures of their peers .
I was lucky enough to be selected for a whiteboard likeness to be crafted . I ’ m not sure how close I feel to a ‘ swamp witch ’ but perhaps an accurate portrait of a teacher !
Hamish Adamson , who was also selected for one of Martin ’ s famous ‘ portraits ’ from Year 7 recaps his visit .
Ms Sophie Bannister English Teacher
Martin caricatures Ethan Calder-Wood .
During week 2 of this term our class , along with several others , had the awesome opportunity of meeting author Martin Chatterton . He told us his story of how he grew up in Liverpool and what inspired him to do what he does . He showed us all the books he wrote .
By far the best part though was being chosen to be drawn , and humiliated , in front of the class . I had to sit facing the boys in the class as they giggled and laughed at my portrait being drawn . I was nervous but it was really fun . I turned around to find a picture of me drawn as an elephant ! At the end , Martin gave one of his signed books to a student in our class . It was a really great experience to listen to an actual author talk about how they come up with ideas , and how it ’ s OK to laugh at yourself . A really awesome day !
Hamish Adamson
17