I hope that you have had a good weekend.
On Saturday night, I attended the Sage Gateshead to watch the Royal Northern Sinfonia perform The Queen Symphony, composed and conducted by Tolga Kashif.
Visiting the amazing Sage Gateshead brought back so many memories from our successful Morpeth Partnership ‘Night at the Movies’ event in November. On Saturday night there were about 150 performers on stage – how on earth did we fit 500 students in that space?
Tolga is a renowned composer and conductor and was responsible for the BBC Children in Need’s outstandingly successful single, Perfect Day. He also wrote the huge orchestral and choral piece based on the music of Queen, undertaken at the commission of EMI Classics and with the full blessing of the surviving members of the band. Since the world premiere, it has become a success worldwide. To me this was a truly inspirational evening.
In June 2015, the students of Chantry & Newminster will be performing We Will Rock You. Rehearsals have already started on a Monday evening and I am amazed by the level of performance already by the students. The sound coming from the various rehearsal rooms is fantastic and I am really excited for the show. Thank you to Ms Jones, Mrs Wilson and Mrs Woolley for co-ordinating the event. Ms Jones has also arranged for students from the Performing Arts department at Newcastle College to work with our students which is a wonderful opportunity, for all involved.
We should be very proud of the music opportunities offered at Chantry. Mrs Woolley in her role as Creative Arts Leader has engaged extremely well with the Music North Northumberland hub. Currently we offer ceilidh, brass, steel pans and strings ensembles as well as a range of peripatetic music teachers, who come into school every week to offer a range of lessons. We are also home to the Ellington Colliery Band. We will be presenting a celebration of our ensemble groups in a performance in Chantry school hall on Thursday 30th April – watch this space for more details.
If you wish to find out more about any music opportunities at Chantry please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Woolley or Mrs Wilson through the school office.
May I take this opportunity to thank you for your support this half term and wish you all a relaxing and peaceful half term holiday. Please remember that the half term holiday startsat 3.30pm on Thursday 12th February and school reopens on Monday 23rd February at 8.55am.
With best wishes for the coming week
Steven Johnson
