SPCS is celebrated for its exceptional music and your child will have a music lesson every week as well as endless opportunities to make music and sing.
As well as the Cathedral Choir there are six school choirs, an orchestra and eleven chamber groups, meaning almost all pupils are in a choir or instrument ensemble. More than 80% of our pupils learn at least one instrument. On average, a third of all leavers at 13+ gain music scholarships to their next schools.
The deliberate practice involved in learning music, and learning the connection between effort and outcome, contributes to the growth mindset we foster in our pupils.
Performance builds confidence and resilience, and brings great joy to our pupils and their audiences. We ensure all our musicians get the chance to perform here at school, in the Cathedral and in a range of exciting venues across London.
SPCS offers tuition in all orchestral instruments as well as electric and acoustic guitar, drums and percussion, piano, singing and the organ. We have over 20 highly experienced part-time instrumental teachers, most of whom combine a professional performing career with teaching. There is a wealth of performance opportunities, with over 40 music events a year, including concerts, festivals, services and competitions.
The Chamber Choir sing alongside the Cathedral Choristers at least twice a year, at Cathedral services and the Lord Mayor’s Show. They are also invited to sing at livery companies including Goldsmiths’ Hall and at the British Australian Society Carol Concert.
The school’s second choir are the Bread Street Choir, who also perform at many events throughout the year: the choral festival, at the Ash Wednesday service in the Cathedral and various carol services for Livery companies in the City of London. Our third Choir, Wrens, introduces juniors to singing harmony. They perform at the School Carol Service in the cathedral, the choral festival and usually at one external event each year.
Junior Choir, formed of Year 3 and 4 pupils, performs three times a year, and rehearse weekly. Pre-Prep also have their own choir, rehearsing weekly and performing at assemblies and school concerts.
Our Orchestra is made up of 30-35 players ranging from Grade 4-8. They perform twice a year, both in school and externally. Last year they performed at St Bart’s Great Hall and St Giles, Cripplegate. Recent repertoire has included: Danse Bacchanale – Saint-Saens; Ballet from Petite Suite – Debussy; Excerpts from Nutcracker – Tchaikovsky; Finlandia – Sibelius.
Ensembles include our Senior Strings, Intermediate Strings, Junior Strings, Senior Brass Ensemble, Brass Band, Wind Band, Junior and Senior Guitar Ensembles and Percussion Ensemble.