BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
MUSIC
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Most pupils have extracurricular activities every day, with all pupils taking part in either Community Service or the Combined Cadet Force on Wednesdays.
Time is set aside in the timetable so you have opportunities to play sport, music or develop other interests every afternoon and into the evenings.
This booklet provides more information about Winchester’ s sports, artistic, and musical opportunities, as well as the community outreach activities and the cadet force.
“ I joined the football team, I joined rowing, the Sustainability Society, I signed up for the school play, all of this happened within the first two weeks. There was so much for me to do and so many people to talk to that it really helped me make friends so much quicker.”
Kansola, Sixth Form entrant
MUSIC
Winchester is known for its music. There are numerous opportunities to develop your individual talents, learn a new instrument, and play or sing alongside friends in any of the following: Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Winchester College Choral Society, close harmony groups, Voces and VocSoc, Big Band, jazz groups, brass groups, wind ensembles, two official rock groups, and Chapel Choir.
Over 700 instrumental lessons are taught each week by visiting music teachers in a dedicated Music School with performance and recording spaces, as well as 55 teaching rooms, all equipped with excellent pianos. The level of instrumental music making is extremely high: numerous pupils gain diplomas, many at Licentiate level.
There is a renowned Visiting Artists programme, alongside weekly pupil performances and concerts. Fortnightly Chamber concerts may include Rachmaninoff’ s Cello Sonata, as well as violin sonatas and piano sonatas by Beethoven and Brahms, and string quartets by Haydn and Dvorak.
The Symphony Orchestra performs major works including symphonies and concertos by composers such as Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Sibelius, with our pupils as soloists. The College’ s Choral Society recently joined the Winchester Philharmonic Choir to perform Mendelssohn’ s Elijah in Winchester Cathedral. The Chapel Choir also provides music for two services a week.