SCHOOL NEWS// STAFF LEAVERS
“He took the Music Society that had been crafted by
his predecessor and shaped it into a new, enlarged
vehicle which anyone with a zeal for singing or
playing could jump on board and experience the
thrill of a “big concert”. And what concerts!”
Martin’s time at Pocklington was the
school’s quincentenary in 2014. During
the course of a busy year, a large service
in York Minster was the focal point,
which Martin saw as an opportunity.
We had a memorable time including
trumpet and band fanfares to introduce
some of the hymns. It was also a chance
to organise a Quincentenary Music
Festival, featuring OPs who had gone
on to become professional musicians.
So MK put together a Quincentenary
Orchestra of students, staff and friends
and a couple of ex-Silvestri Music
Scholars performed a couple of Mozart
concertos, Roxana Popescu on her flute
and Georgi Fodor on piano. We were
also treated to a Balada by Romanian
composer
Ciprian
Porumbescu,
played by another ex-scholar, Ramy
Racovicean. Then the next evening,
Ioana Ilie, Giorgi Chiriac and Lucy
Butcher performed a Mendelssohn Trio
and Alex Dariescu treated us to some of
her piano repertoire. In fact, it was such
a success that Martin was able to repeat
the idea in 2016, when Alex came
back to play a Mozart piano concerto
accompanied by a scratch orchestra of
students (from Pocklington School and
other local schools). Again seizing the
opportunity, MK had the orchestra
playing Haydn’s London Symphony as
a curtain-raiser.
In search of another challenge under
a new headmaster, Martin took on a
newly-created role, that of Director of
Activities. With a more wide-ranging
portfolio, he was keen to recognise the
commitment of the many of pupils who
dedicate significant proportions of their
school week and year to extra-curricular
events. Thus the Pocklington Award
was born, an accolade that encourages
younger pupils to participate in many
diverse activities and older ones to take
responsibility for the organisation and
running of them.
Many teaching staff at school may
have come across Martin in his
administrative capacities, perhaps
sitting at the back of a classroom with his
“clipboard” (actually, it’s usually just an
A4 notepad), but most of us know that
he’d rather have a baton in his hand
or a piano keyboard at his fingertips.
And so, as I sit here in the trombone
section at the back of the band, I feel
privileged to have worked with MK for
so long and, perhaps most of all, to have
experienced the man doing what he
loves best, whether it was conducting the
swing band, choir or any other school
ensemble, acting as impresario for over
a hundred musicians at countless Music
Society concerts, directing the singers
and musicians for school musicals or
leading congregations numbered in
hundreds in Beverley or thousands in
York Minster.
What is most important is that each of
these stages of the journey have involved
enjoyment and fun for all - those taking
part and those listening.
8
THE POCKLINGTONIAN
Most teachers who pass through
Pocklington School in their careers
manage to leave their mark in some
sort of way; in Martin’s case he
leaves a legacy. I am paranoid that
in this article I will have overlooked
a number of his accomplishments in
reminiscing about some of my most
memorable recollections; I apologise if
so. Nonetheless, it is safe to say that he
leaves a vibrant and effervescent music
department to await a new leader…
Tom Taylor
How lucky to be given a final chance
to express my gratitude to thank all
those students with whom I have been
fortunate enough to work. In Chamber
Choir, Swing Band, and most recently,
Musical Theatre Society, we have
produced music of outstanding quality
and made memories that will last a
lifetime. Those choral performances at
York and Beverley Minster; the Swing
Band tours and open air events such as
‘Party @ Pock’; ‘Little Shop of Horrors’,
‘The Drowsy Chaperone’, and most
recently ‘Seussical’ – all go to show
the importance of the extra-curricular
programme here at Pocklington, and
the special relationships that are forged
when we work together towards a
common goal.
In June, many of our students were
joined by OPs, parents, staff and friends
of the school in a joyous celebration
of music-making. To be surrounded
by so many former students, making
wonderful music together was the
perfect culmination of my teaching
career. I hope those who were involved
in the event will think back as fondly of
the performance as I will.
Can I thank all of you who are part of
my ‘memory book’, for the wonderful
things we have been able to achieve
together.
MK