String Ensemble

The String Ensemble meets every Thursday after Orchestra from 4.15pm to 5pm. It provides pupils who are learning violin, viola, cello and double bass the opportunity to develop their string technique and musicianship.

The String Ensemble is an extra-curricular music activity in which string players rehearse on a Thursday after the main school orchestra from 4.15pm to 5.00pm.

We play an extensive range of music from pieces by living composers such as John Williams Movie Themes, a string arrangement of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, TV Theme Tunes such as Downtown Abbey and pop arrangements such as ‘Yesterday’, ‘You Raise Me Up’, Viva La Vida. Throughout this year we balanced foot tapping chart pieces with sectional rehearsals (dividing into Violin 1, Violin II, Viola, Cello and Double Bass) to develop our string technique. This was showcased in a polished performance of the famous piece ‘Amadeus’ from Symphony No. 25, arranged by Jamin Hoofman.

The Spring Concert is a musical highlight of the year and one that helps us to target our progress but in addition we look forward to playing at a couple of music assemblies throughout the year.

The School’s Open Nights in January is a major occasion, playing in front prospective Grosvenor pupils and providing a friendly ambiance for our visitors. These great experiences have definitely improved everyone’s playing technique, sight-reading and have provided opportunities to build one’s self confidence while playing alongside pupils in all year groups and make friendships with fellow musicians. I would encourage anyone playing a string instrument to join, as it is a fun way to end a Thursday afternoon.

Karl Kirkpatrick 13 TG5