Music
Music is an important, enriching part of the lives of many of our boys.
Whether a boy wishes to join one of the three orchestras, play in a jazz group or the big band, sing in one of the three choirs, jam in a rock band or just strum a ukulele, he will be catered for.
With thirty music staff and twenty music groups, there is indeed something for everyone. There are also opportunities to perform on the biggest stages, be it at the Montreux Jazz Festival or performing with the Hallé at the Bridgewater Hall.
Music is popular at MGS as an academic subject at GCSE and A level and throughout the Co-curriculum at ages 7-18. Currently, nearly 30% of pupils receive tuition at school with 16% of those pupils learning more than one instrument. On average, there are over 10 days of individual music exams scheduled each year, mostly ABRSM but also Trinity and Guildhall for drum kit.
Access to the Co-curriculum is open to all and throughout the school there are a wide range of choirs, orchestras, bands and ensembles which rehearse weekly and cater for all levels of musical experience.
MGS ensembles perform regularly at Manchester Cathedral and the RNCM. Facilities are of good quality in school with a bespoke music block with practice rooms (with Boston Steinway upright pianos) and rehearsal spaces and frequent performances take place in our own 600 seat Memorial Hall which is equipped with a Steinway Model D piano. There is an annual music festival as well as recital competitions for all sections of the school and regular concerts and performance opportunities for school ensembles. There is no music scholarship programme but some funding is available for music lessons on a case by case basis. There are regular collaborations with the Drama Department.
Co-curricular music covers a wide range of instruments and is designed as a progression so that as boys improve in standard, they become eligible for more senior ensembles. It is available for all pupils whether they learn an instrument in School or not. For example, a string player of Grade 1 standard could start in ARCO and progress to Senior Orchestra when Grade 5 has been achieved and may then be eligible for selection for Stravaganza.
A wind or brass player may start from scratch and play in the Junior and Lower School Ensembles, then progress to MGS Wind Band, and then on to Concert Band.
MGS Choir is available to all years in the School. The treble parts are sung by Lower School boys with older boys singing Alto, Tenor or Bass. You do not have to be able to read music well, or play an instrument to join choir, you just need to enjoy singing and turn up to rehearsals. We will teach you the rest. Close Harmony and Thursday Singers (with MHSG and WGS) is selected from senior members of MGS Choir.
Concert Dress is normally school uniform. Tickets can be booked in advance through the Box Office at this link. For assistance ring Fiona Pozniak on 0161 224 7201 ext 443. Senior Concerts, which start at 6.30pm, will usually proceed without an interval, and refreshments will be made available from the Refectory from 5.45pm. Refreshments are provided at concerts in School as part of the admissions charge, if there is one. There will usually be an extra rehearsal in the Hall during the day of a concert. You will be notified in writing of any extra rehearsals which take place out of school time.
Please contact our music department if you have any questions:
| Robert Carey | Director of Music | 0161 224 7201 ext 440 | r.m.carey@mgs.org |
| Fiona Pozniak | Music Administrator | 0161 224 7201 ext 443 | musicadmin@mgs.org |
Percussion, Guitar, Flute, Clarinet and Saxophone groups also meet regularly throughout the week at times decided by the teachers
Monday |
||
ARCO |
M1 |
1.25pm |
Jazz Combo |
M16 |
1.15 pm |
Saxophone Group (Grade 5+) |
M12 |
1.30 pm |
Stravaganza (Strings grade 6+) |
M1 |
3.45 pm |
Tuesday |
||
Junior Clarinet Group |
M16 |
8.30 am |
Junior Orchestra |
JS Hall |
1.05pm |
Concert Band (Grade 5+) |
M1 |
1.15 pm |
MGS Wind Band (Grade 1-5) |
M16 |
1.15 pm |
Percussion Ensemble |
Per |
3.45 pm |
Wednesday |
||
Theory Class (Years 7-13) |
M12 |
8.30 am |
Junior Choir |
M1 |
12.50 pm |
Big Band (Grades 3-5) |
M16 |
1.15 pm |
Flute Group |
M2 |
1.30 pm |
Music Tech Club |
H |
3.45 pm |
Thursday |
||
Clarinet Ensemble (Grade 1-4) |
M1 |
1.00pm |
Saxophone Ensemble (Grade 1-4) |
M2 |
1.25pm |
Clarinet Ensemble (Grade 5+) |
M1 |
1.30 pm |
Senior Orchestra (Grade 5+) |
M1 |
3.45 pm |
Friday |
||
Trombone Ensemble |
MLib |
8.15 am |
MGS Choir |
M1 |
1.15 pm |