An audience of peers, parents and staff enjoyed the brilliant performances presented by Year 13 musicians making their final solo recordings for the A level music course. The evening saw six of the nine Year 13 A level musicians perform their ten-minute recitals, with music ranging from songs by Handel, Wolf and Rodgers to concerto movements by Neruda and jazz funk by Stanley Clarke. As recitals which pupils prepare over many months, leading to regular recordings in the month before submission, these are among the most impressive musical performances of the year, given by the school’s most experienced musicians. Thanks to all of the singing and instrumental music teachers who played such an important role in preparing the performers.  

The Spring Ensembles Concert on Tuesday 19th March began with an expressive performance of Elgar’s Nimrod given by the String Orchestra, followed by renditions of The Pirate and El Vuelo de la Cisne given by the Guitar Ensemble, complete with flamenco style hand percussion. La Paix and La Rejouissance were then the movements from Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks recreated in an arrangement for the Brass Chamber Ensemble, before the Jazz Combo gave punchy performances of Come Fly With Me and Dancing in the Street. The Chamber Orchestra’s Serenade in D came from Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Op.28, adapted for strings. Soon joined by the wind and brass, the Orchestra went on to tackle impressively the challenging first movement of Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. The Junior Piano Trio’s performance of Beethoven in E flat, followed by the String Chamber Ensemble’s Schubert Quartet in G then provided two chamber music highlights. The Wind Band and Concert Band concluded the concert with great energy, playing first arrangements of Go Down Moses then AC/DCs Back In Black and Highway To Hell. Glenn Miller’s In The Mood and Duke Ellington’s Caravan were then the particularly memorable closing numbers to this term’s concert.   

J.S. Bach’s setting of the Christian Passion story found in St. John’s gospel, that is the story of the crucifixion of Christ leading to the celebration of Easter, is one of the composer’s most important works. It is fitting therefore that this oratorio, alongside other works by Bach and Handel, has frequently featured in the Tiffin Choirs’ lent music programme for many decades. This year’s performance at St. Luke’s Church, as always, impressed both audience and choir members alike, not only for the quality of the challenging choruses sung by the choir but also the compelling solo roles and period instrument performances given by the visiting musicians, among them longstanding friends and alumni of the school. 

On Thursday 7th March members of the Tiffin School Choirs assembled in All Saints’ Church Kingston, along with the BBC Radio 3 Choral Evensong production team, to record a choral evensong for broadcast in the coming weeks, including music by Forbes-L'Estrange, Stanford, and Howells. The BBC’s weekly broadcast of live or recorded services from cathedrals, churches and chapels around the country has a regular listenership of around 300,000, with Tiffin being among only a handful of schools nationally who have taken part in the long history of the programme, beginning in 1926. The broadcast can be heard on Radio 3 at 3pm on Wednesday 10th April and on BBC sounds.

Congratulations to all of the treble, soprano, alto and tenor soloists, partsong performers and unison song choirs who, from the hundreds of competitors entering the preliminary rounds of this year’s House Singing Competition, were selected to compete in the grand final, taking place on the evening of Wednesday 31st January in the Sports Hall. Selecting these finalists was challenging enough given the high standard of so many entries, and so former Tiffin School Director of Music Simon Toyne (who first established the competition over 20 years ago) faced many difficult decisions as he adjudicated a final round full of impressive singing, conducting, choreography and even musical arranging, as the pupils presented performances which they had prepared themselves. The programme opened with the Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass Solo Song category. With a high a commendation going to Jasper (DW) for Tchaikovsky’s None But The Lonely Heart, joint 2nd places were awarded to Kavin (KM) and Lia (L) for Vaughan Williams’ Vagabond and Wolf’s Verborgenheit respectively. It was Nad who was victorious in this category for KM with Love’s Philosophy by Alexander L’Estrange. The Partsong Category arguably represents the most impressive work of the evening, showing off both the competitors’ own complex musical arrangements and their commitment to perfecting their close harmony singing. In third place with an excellent ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’ was KM whilst it was Drake’s entry of ‘Feeling Good’, remarkable for its scale, range of brilliant soloists and exciting modulations, which achieved 2nd place. But, for its impressive precision, purity and pithiness, it was CG’s ‘Your Feet’s Too Big’ which came out on top. Adjudicator Mr Toyne noted that the third category of Solo Treble Song is arguably the most exceptional and important in Tiffin’s singing culture, celebrating and nurturing the singing achievements of the youngest members of the school, and showcasing the leading musicians of tomorrow. It was Tom (DW) who was awarded 3rd place for his joyful and well-choreographed ‘Who Will Buy’ from Oliver, with Max (R) achieving 2nd place for ‘Path To The Moon’ sung with excellent intonation and confidence. For his brilliantly expressive performance of ‘A Shepherd Loved A Nymph’ it was Calan who won first place in this category for DW. And finally, the category everyone was waiting for: the Unison Song, involving this year well over 200 competitors. In 3rd place with a brilliantly funny and meticulously prepared performance of Sondheim’s Little Things You Do Together was Raleigh, directed by Arjan who was also awarded the conductor’s baton prize. In 2nd place, recognising the energy brought by their marching choreography, was Churchill-Gordon with their performance of The Proclaimers’ 500 Miles. But for its legato, intonation and complexity, it was Darwin-Wilberforce's A Million Dreams which took first prize, completing this annual highlight both of the music and house calendars. Congratulations to all who took part.

Due to popular demand for places in November’s concert, January marks a change from termly to half-termly performances in the ‘Open Concert’ series. As the title implies, like an open mic, the concerts encourage pupil-led performances of music of all kinds, and this month’s concert was no exception. Max (7DO) opened with Martinu’s impressively fast and fiendish Allegretto from Ctvrtky a osminky, followed by Hamza’s (13MS) own excellent arrangement of Faure’s Cantique de Jean Racine for guitar. Both Joseph’s (8RXH) and Vanya’s (9SE) brilliant presentations of Schumann’s Fantasiestucke Mvt. I for cello and Blavet’s Allegro Allemande for flute respectively were notable for their level of challenge. Rishabh’s (8AN) rhythmic and musical performance of Heather Hammond’s Changing Times was then followed by a medley of Sondheim songs created and performed with great flair by Arjan (13SJC). Three engaging indie/rock performances made for an exciting end to the concert: Adam’s (7OM) performance of Cream’s Sunshine of Your Love, followed by Fredric’s (7TW) In Bloom from Nirvana, concluding with the senior band performing Bea Kristi’s ‘Tired’. 

Tiffin School Orchestra were joined by a cast of soloists and chorus on Monday and Tuesday, 15th and 16th January, to give a concert performance of music from Beauty And The Beast, a retelling by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken of the classic French fairytale. The piece tells the story of a selfish prince who, on refusing to show kindness to a stranger (an enchantress) looking for shelter, is placed under a spell along with his castle and its inhabitants, turning the prince into a frightening Beast (Toby 12PS, Nad 11SP). Only by showing and receiving kindness can the Beast break the spell. Belle (Olivia 12LMO, Emi 13SJC) and her father Maurice (Harvey 12PS) through misfortune find themselves imprisoned by the Beast in his castle. Through Belle’s presence, and through the gentle persuasion of castle residents Mrs Potts (Rosa 12KO, Leela 12MT), Lumiere (Yasmine 12MB, Sania 12KO) and Cogsworth (Manish 9SE), the friendship between Belle and the Beast grows. Belle, however, is forced to leave the castle when she learns that Gaston (Kangmin 10GA, Calan 9SE), her unwelcome suitor, Lefou (Josie 12JXE) his henchman and D’Arque (Oscar 7HES, Tanmay 9CH) have placed her father in danger. They go further, assembling a mob to storm the castle and kill the Beast. In their fight, the Beast is mortally wounded, but the resulting kindness between him and Belle is enough to break the spell, setting the castle residents free and returning the Beast to his former but kinder self. Highlights of the performances included the chorus numbers ‘Little Town / Belle’, introducing us to the residents of Belle’s town, ‘Be Our Guest’, an invitation to a castle banquet, and the ‘Transformation’ in which the chorus together sing the familiar lines ‘Tale as old as time...’. Thanks to all those who prepared and performed so impressively in this concert. 

The final day of the Autumn Term was marked by a gathering of the whole Tiffin School community in the Sports Hall for a valedictory assembly. The Concert Band and Wind Band together entertained an audience of almost 1400 pupils and staff, performing musical numbers between each of the presentations given by the Head Prefects and Senior Staff. Music included swing arrangements of Jingle Bell Rock, Winter Wonderland and Rocking Around The Christmas Tree, alongside music by Duke Ellington and Gershwin.  

The Concert Band and Jazz Combo were joined by the Tiffinians acapella and soloists to perform for an especially appreciative audience on the evening of Tuesday 12th December in the Main Hall. The Jazz Combo opened the evening with the standards Fly Me To The Moon, Autumn Leaves and The Girl From Ipanema, before moving on to soul and disco classics Ain’t No Mountain, Proud Mary and Car Wash. Arjan (13SJC), also our honorary MC for the evening, led soloists Harrison (10GS), Toby (12PS) and Nad (11SP) accompanied by the superb house rhythm section: Alan (13SJC), Hamza (13MS) and Kavin (13CR). A highlight of the the Tiffinians acapella set which followed was White Christmas, which combined beautiful slow ballad singing with some lively swing. The Concert Band headlined the evening with music by Gershwin and Duke Ellington, with an interlude of Christmas swing: Jingle Bell Rock, Rocking Around the Christmas Tree and Winter Wonderland. Thanks go to the Friends of Tiffin Music who staffed a bar and helped create the festive and familiar informal atmosphere of this annual event.  

On Friday 8th December, members of the Chamber Choir travelled to St. Andrew’s Church Holborn to lead the Alumni Carol Service, attended by current and former pupils, their parents, staff, and many more friends of Tiffin School. Among the congregation were numerous former school choir members whose first experience of choral singing at Tiffin School has led them to enjoy many years, decades even, of singing since. Alongside the familiar congregational carols the choir sang works by Sally Beamish, Tomas Luis de Victoria and Will Todd, in addition to carol arrangements by Cecilia Mcdowall and Mack Willberg. Thanks go to Fr Martin Hislop and the members of the extended Tiffin community who led the prayers and readings. 

On a frosty Saturday morning, 2nd December, a select group of Concert Band members gathered on Kingston’s Park Road to entertain the Christmas shoppers and traders as the opening event to the Park Road Christmas Fair, organised by the Norbiton and North Kingston Traders’ Association. The band members performed Christmas favourites including Jingle Bell Rock, Winter Wonderland, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and The Twelve Days of Christmas, along with music by Duke Ellington and Gershwin. Mel Delauney, event organiser and OT parent, commented: ‘We really enjoyed having Tiffin band members take part again. They really got the event off to a great start. Thank you!”

On Thursday 30th November, The Tiffin Boys’ Choir, with soloists from the Tiffin Chamber Choir and baroque orchestra, performed Handel’s Messiah at St. Luke’s Church Kingston. In a concert which has become a fixture in the choir Christmas calendar, the singers impressed audience members even more greatly this year by performing the work almost in its entirety. The achievement is especially remarkable noting that, as in previous years, every solo movement was sung by a choir member, brilliantly prepared by Tiffin’s dedicated singing teaching staff, along with masterclass leaders and international soloists Gareth John OT and Robin Blaze. The choirs achieved this impressive feat alongside their performance of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius (19th November) and preparations for the annual and ambitious Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (17th December) at All Saints’ Church. 

Pupils were invited to perform music of all types at the Open Concert on Tuesday 28th November, and the first fifteen soloists and ensembles who signed up to participate certainly did not disappoint with the variety, virtuosity and vibrancy of their performances. Among the most challenging works performed were movements from Saint-Saens Oboe Sonata, Kabalevsky’s Violin Concerto, Malcolm Arnold’s Clarinet Sonatina, Bach’s First Violin Suite and Faure’s Elegie, performed by Hansen (10GA), Kangmin (10GA), Christian (10AGS), Kai (10AGS) and Joseph (8RXH) respectively. Brilliant solo performances were also offered by many junior pupils including Tiago and Nikhil (7OM), Jack and Adi (7TW) and Teddy (7HES). A highlight of the evening was the Guitar Ensemble’s toe tapping performance of La Bamba, complemented by two other well-known tunes: Mission Impossible and Good King Wenceslas. Two rock bands offered an uplifting end to the concert with the student-led Senior Rock band performing The Rare Occasions’ Notion and the School Rock Band presenting songs by Adele, Oasis and The Beatles. 

Tiffin School’s 150 strong Oratorio Choir, formed of pupils past and present, their parents, staff, and many more members of the wider Tiffin School community, gathered on Sunday 19th November to perform one of Elgar’s most heartfelt works: his Dream of Gerontius. Forming in September, the choir prepared Elgar’s epic together each Wednesday evening of the Autumn Term before joining the visiting orchestra and soloists for their final rehearsal in the school sports hall on the day of the concert. Among the performers were forty Year 7 pupils, many of whom had never before sung music such as this with a full choir and orchestra. Not only did choir members enjoy creating the many striking tutti chorus and orchestra moments heard in this piece, they were also given the opportunity to appreciate the outstanding solo passages performed by Old Tiffinian and baritone Gareth Brynmor John, mezzo soprano Victoria Simmonds and tenor Ed Lyon. Members and friends of the Tiffin School community are warmly invited to join the Oratorio choir when it reassembles next September for its 2024 season. 

The Autumn Ensembles Concert on Tuesday 14th November featured the school’s bands, orchestras and chamber groups performing music prepared during the first half term. Beginning with the String Orchestra playing beautifully peaceful movements from Tchaikovsky’s Album for the Young, the Brass Chamber Ensemble followed with Handel’s energetic Overture to Music for the Royal Fireworks. The Jazz Combo then presented the standard ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ and the up tempo roots rock classic ‘Proud Mary’. Following this, the Serenade in D played by the Chamber Orchestra was an arrangement of Beethoven’s familiar Op.28. With the wind and brass joining the strings, the Symphony Orchestra performed Sibelius’ stirring tribute to his homeland ‘Finlandia’ followed by the first of Vaughan Williams’ English Folk Song Suite movements. The string chamber ensemble then presented the first movement of Haydn’s Quartet in G Op.76, before the Concert and Wind Bands took the stage to perform two spiritual arrangements: Swing Low and Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child. The Concert Band concluded the evening with Duke Ellington’s It Don’t Mean a Thing and I’m Beginning to See The Light.  

On Sunday 29th October, a semi-chorus of Tiffin School Choir members travelled to Abbey Road studios to record James Seymour Brett’s (OT) Requiem.  Taking part were trebles of the Tiffin Boys’ Choir and sopranos of the Chamber Choir, including four pupils invited to perform solo roles during the session. The experience offered the young Tiffinians an opportunity to be inspired by a former pupil musician whose film credits include Transformers, Alien vs Predator and The Golden Compass, along with musical direction/arrangement for the Queen’s Jubilee Concerts, Kylie, Paul McCartney and many more.

The Year 7 Inter-form Choir Competition is the first of three annual musical performances given by every member of Year 7, followed each year by the House Singing Competition and Spring Concert. On Thursday 19th October, almost all 180 Year 7 pupils assembled in All Saints’ Church to present a song prepared by their class in music lessons during the half term, contrasted with an instrumental solo performed by one representative of the class. Beginning with 7CT performing the Proclaimers’ ‘500 miles’, the programme continued with Dolly Parton’s ‘Nine To Five’ (7DO) and Gary Barlow’s ‘Sing’ (7HES), followed by musical theatre favourites ‘Sit Down You’re Rocking The Boat’ (7JM), ‘The Rhythm of Life’ (7OM) and ‘Consider Yourself’ (7TW), all heard alongside impressive violin, cello, piano and clarinet solos. Highlights of this year’s song performances included moving and amusing solo and semi-chorus opening verses, dramatic choreography and even an instrumental (glockenspiel) break. While our adjudicator Mr Scott Price made his final decisions, the Chamber Choir impressed the audience with performances of Eric Whitacre’s ‘Sleep’ and George Michael’s ‘Faith’, showing Year 7 pupils just how much they could achieve should they choose to participate during their school career in the many co-curricular choral and instrumental music opportunities offered to them at Tiffin. During his adjudication, Mr Price, who is Director of Music at the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School (a school with an excellent musical tradition similar to ours), remarked on just how impressive it was to see almost every pupil participating, and to such a high standard. He went on to award third prize for the best piano solo to Carlos (7OM), second prize for the best performance on an orchestral instrument to Alexander (7HES), and first prize to 7CT for their energetic and engaging song performance. Huge thanks go to Mr Price and the many other staff who prepared and participated in the event.  

In the memories of all those who attended this year’s annual Piano Competition Final on Tuesday 7th November, the standard of performance in this competition has never been higher. Not only were so many of the works performed this year exceptionally challenging for the performers, among them Ballades 1 and 3 by Chopin, Schubert’s Impromptu in E flat and Polichinelo by Villa-Lobos, many more were played with remarkable musicianship, technical control and accuracy. The fifteen finalists were chosen from a very strong field of nearly forty competitors, many of whose preliminary round performances would have been worthy of the final in another year. For this alone, the pupils selected for the final should be very proud. Five performances were heard in each of the three categories of Junior (Y7-10, up to grade 5), Intermediate (Y7-10, grades 6 and above) and Senior (Y11-13, grades 6 and above). The competition final was adjudicated by Professor John Irving, fortepiano recitalist and professor of music at the universities of Bristol and London. Before the very challenging task of selecting three winners, Professor Irving discussed the importance of the player’s imagination in realising both the expressive and technical possibilities within each piece. He went on to select Jack (8HB, Junior), Joseph (8RXH, Intermediate) and Borimir (12LMO, Senior) as the winners of their respective categories. Congratulations to them all.  

David Nield, Director of Music and Tiffin teacher from 1965-2002, sadly passed away in July. He had such a huge influence over so many Tiffin students’ lives, that he will always be fondly remembered by the Tiffin community. His life and reach extended far beyond Tiffin though: he was also Organist and Director of Music at Kingston Parish Church from 1967-1994, and was one of the founders of the National Youth Music Theatre, responsible for so many of today’s talented crop of actors and performers. As a composer, his works were performed worldwide (including at Sadler’s Wells Theatre) and broadcast on BBC1, BBC2, Radio 3 and ITV. In commemoration of his extraordinary life, a special Memorial Day was held in Kingston on Sunday 15th October.  This began with a memorial service in Kingston Parish Church where a number of David’s pieces were performed by the choirs of Tiffin School and the church.  A reception at the Rose Theatre in Kingston followed the service and concluded with an hour-long concert including performances by the Tiffin Boys’ Choir and special guests.  In attendance was HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, in his role as President of the National Youth Music Theatre. The day was a wonderful celebration of David’s life and a reminder of the impact he had on so many.  

A recording made by the Tiffin Boys’ Choir and Tiffin Children’s Chorus with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has reached number 1 in the Billboard Classical Chart, and the top 100 across all Billboard Charts (currently at 74, above Miley Cyrus and Hozier). Choir members wrote of their experience of recording with Joe Hisaishi in 2022: ‘Members of the Tiffin Boys’ Choir and Tiffin Children’s Chorus have featured recently in a recording of the music of Joe Hisaishi, internationally renowned composer of over 100 film scores and solo albums, including Spirited Away (2001), Fireworks (1997) and The Wind Rises (2013). Joe Hisaishi himself directed the recording which took place at the church of St. Giles in the Barbican complex. Leading up to the recording, choir members attended rehearsals at weekends and after school to learn the challenging three and four part choral music, as well as develop their pronunciation of the Japanese text with the aid of the production company’s language coach. After three intense days of recording at St. Giles’ on 9th, 10th and 11th June, the engineers had the takes they needed. We now look forward to hearing the audio and video recordings which are due for release later this year’. 

BBC Young Composers' Competition Success 

Congratulations to Advaith (12LMO) who has been selected as a prizewinner in his category of the BBC Young Composers' Competition. From the many entries submitted by young composers nationwide, Advaith's work was selected as one of only six winning compositions. Advaith shares first prize in the Upper Junior Category with just one fellow young composer - an outstanding achievement in this national competition. Advaith writes of his experience: 'My piece, Saturn Devouring his Son, is inspired by Francisco Goya’s painting of the same name and the Greek myth behind it. The influences shown in my piece are found in the 20th century with composers such as Ravel and Stravinsky (particularly when the music becomes violent). In the beginning, it was incredibly difficult finding inspiration for my piece until Francesca Goya’s painting inspired me to write something based on his art. I wanted to explore the contrast between the innocence of the child and the violence of Saturn. I did this by juxtaposing two different sections with completely different moods. In between these sections I had a recurring ‘fate’ motif (which is heard at the very start in the saxophones) as if it sits in the forefront of Saturn’s mind. Each repeat of this motif changes, reflecting on what has just happened'. You can listen to it here:  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k6PG5tUmm14FJdXd4Bph2ADDQz2Og-ER/view?usp=sharing 

Tiffin In The Garden’ Summer Festival 2022 This year’s ‘Tiffin In The Garden’ saw a welcome return of the world food fair kindly arranged by the Parents’ Association and so greatly missed during the pandemic, complementing the bar kindly arranged by the Friends of Tiffin Music, which was busier than ever thanks to the exceptionally good weather. It also welcomed new items to the programme, including a performance given by the Tiffin Boys’ Choir trebles with new Year 6 pupils looking forward to joining the school and choir in September, as well as games in aid of TiPRA (Tiffin Parents’ Rugby Association) offering prizes for the fastest pass of a rugby ball. The programme began with winners of the Battle of the Bands competition, followed by the Years 6-9 Boys’ Choir, who had prepared their performance in a choral workshop that afternoon.  The Children’s Chorus performance which followed included a selection of the songs they had performed in their summer concert a week earlier, a highlight of which was ‘You Raise Me Up’ by Graham Lovland. The String Orchestra followed, performing music which included William’s (8RC) arrangement of the Star Wars Theme. We were delighted to welcome back many members of Years 11, 12 and 13 who have been away on study leave and progression week activities this term. Some of these returning students formed the Wind Chamber Ensemble who reprised Richard Strauss’s Serenade in E flat from earlier in the year. The Chamber Orchestra which, thanks to an excellent cohort of string players in Years 7 to 10, has been particularly active this term, performed movements from Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. This was followed by the School Orchestra’s performances of the impressive first movements of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9. The Jazz Combo’s programme included Kosma’s Autumn Leaves. The Wind Band and Concert Band brought the programme to a close, first with the combined bands performances of jazz and pop arrangements, including an Irish folksong suite. The Concert Band went on to perform standards by Gershwin along with an arrangement of Bernstein’s ‘Cool’ from the challenging score of West Side Story. The evening was as popular as ever, and made memorable by the brilliantly sunny weather, along with the bar very kindly organised by the Friends of Tiffin Music, and the food prepared by Year 7 parents through the Parents’ Association. 

Tiffin Battle of the Bands 2022 The preliminary round began with performances given by twelve different Year 9 bands who had prepared a range of songs in their music lessons during the final half term of the academic year. The cover songs ranged from Imagine Dragons’ Demons and Radioactive, through George Ezra’s Shotgun and Oasis’ Wonderwall, to Guns n Roses’ Sweet Child of Mine. The competition was, however, not limited to pupils in Year 9 and, later that day, the preliminary round continued with a range of Year 7-13 bands and soloists who had prepared their performances during lunchtimes and after school. The final began with a welcome to our guest adjudicator Kurt Phillips, a drummer who works in the studio and on tour with artists including Ben Selley (Concept/X Factor), Lauren Thalia (Britain's Got Talent), Peter Howarth (The Hollies / Cliff Richard), Haunts, Kilkovec, and Richard Jacobs. Outstanding performances were given by the Year 9 band finalists, followed by Y7-13 bands performing Can’t Stop, Three Lions, Pavane and Mirror, alongside soloists Toby, Marcus, Calan, Nad, Nik, Arjan and Tye performing songs which ranged from My Shot and Sign of the Times to Maybe This Time and Fly Me To The Moon. Our adjudicator Kurt was impressed by the performances, giving many special mentions to bands such as Andrew, Arthur, Rohan and Ronald who performed an extremely impressive original composition, and soloists such as Nik (for his especially stylish Hotel California guitar solo) and Marcus (for his impressive Alpha House // Bando rap). Finally, prizes were awarded to the very deserving winners: 3rd to Calan for his performance of ‘My Shot’ from Hamilton, 2nd to Arjan for ‘Maybe This Time’ and 1st to Nad, Sian, Tom, Ari, and Eric for their remarkably convincing ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’. 

2019 began with a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades at the Royal Opera House. The chorus included 12 members of Tiffin Boys’ Choir who performed with the soloists and orchestra of the Royal Opera throughout January. Also in January we welcomed James Bowman whose masterclass helped to inspire the countertenors of the choir as they worked with James on arias from Handel’s Messiah among others. A highlight of the first half term was the annual House Singing Competition. More than 200 performers took part, with an audience of over 400, performing unison songs, partsongs and solos in the Sports Hall. The great success with which upper school musicians motivated and trained their Year 7 and 8 housemates was evident. Following Raleigh’s winning performance of the unison song, and Kingsley-Montgomery’s winning entry in the partsong category, the House Singing cup this year went to Raleigh. Congratulations to Alan (Year 8, Turing Nightingale) Robert (Year 13, Raleigh) who were the respective winners of the treble and alto/tenor/bass solo rounds. Following the House Singing competition, choir members travelled to Cambridge to join the choir of Jesus College to sing choral evensong in the college chapel. Alongside Jesus College Chapel Choir, which has welcomed many former members of Tiffin Boys’ Choir as choral scholars, the choir sang works by Parry and Howells. 

Perhaps the greatest highlight of the spring term was the production of Oliver! Among the outstanding solo performers were Amadeus, Dylan, and Ishaan as Oliver, Jai and Noah as Dodger, Benji and Louis as Fagin as well as Duncan and Euan as Mr Bumble. With the help of Joe and Nathan (former Tiffin Head Boys), the Main Hall was transformed into a dark and misty east end, where an impressive chorus of young workhouse boys and thieves danced and sang well-loved numbers including Food Glorious Food and Pick a Pocket. The upbeat mood of Oom-pah-pah, led Abigail, Freya and Rosalind’s Nancy, was never far from the darkness created by Aaron and Scott’s Bill Sykes. Perhaps one of the most outstanding performances was given by the orchestra. This all-Tiffin, all-student band went from strength to strength as the cast, chorus, crew and musicians completed the week-long run of shows to a full house. The organ recital which began the second half of the spring term reflected the impressive growth in organ studies at Tiffin this year. Five recitalists, guided by Iestyn Evans, performed an impressive programme, among which were items from Joseph’s examination programme, for which he was awarded the ARSM diploma later in the year. The soloists’ recital similarly featured impressive solo playing from Chin Wei (violin), Daniel (guitar) and Joshua (trombone) among others. 

A highlight of the second half of the spring term was the choir’s performance of Bach’s St. John Passion, directed by Edward Higginbottom, with the Instruments of Time and Truth as part of the Barnes Festival. Working with Edward, an expert in Baroque performance practice, helped to give the choir an excellent understanding of this challenging work. Later in March the Tiffinians performed alongside Lesley Garrett at the Momentum Charity’s 15th Anniversary Concert at the Landmark Arts Centre. The Spring Ensembles Concert featured the school’s junior and chamber ensembles. Highlights of the concert included performances of movements Ravel’s String Quartet in F, Beethoven’s Piano Trio in D and Holst’s Wind Quintet in A flat. The school Rock Band debuted with performances of Rolling in the Deep and Ruby. The concert concluded with an impressive performance of two movements of Bach’s Keyboard Concerto in D minor given by soloist Sam (Year 13) and the Chamber Orchestra. 

The choir continued its schedule of monthly choral evensong at St. Luke’s Church in March with music by Noble and Bach. Over the course of the Spring Term, Tiffin Musicians, including all pupils in Year 7, prepared for the School Spring Concert. Taking place at All Saints’ Church, performances were given by the Wind Band, String Orchestra, Swing Band, and School Orchestra among others. Following the Orchestra’s performance of a fantasia on John Williams’ ‘Empire Strikes Back’, the instrumentalists were joined by over one hundred and twenty Year 7 pupils for the finale: numbers from the musicals Oliver! and Wicked. Before the end of the Spring Term, the A-level Final Recital was given by the school’s seven A-level musicians, spanning works from Bruch’s Romance for Viola to Led Zeppelin’s Achilles’ Last Stand for drum kit. The term concluded with a performance of Handel’s Messiah given by the choir with period instruments at St. Luke’s Church. Most impressive were the step-out solos performed by pupils from each year group. 

The Chamber Orchestra began the term with a fine performance of Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nacthmusik at St. Andrew’s Church Surbiton as part of the Thames coffee concerts series. String soloists Humphrey Allen, Robert Jones and Chin Wei Tang presented an excellent first half to the concert. Thanks to the high standard of these performances, a few weeks later, soloists Daniel Blaze and Sam O’Neal were also invited to perform as part of this series. Musically, the focal point of the Spring Term must be the House Singing Competition. Described by a recent adjudicator as ‘unrivalled in the UK by all but a few schools’, the adjudicator of this year’s competition, Howard Ionascu (Director of the Junior Royal Academy) made similarly positive comments about the excellent performances. After four preliminary rounds (unison song, partsong, treble solo and alto, tenor or bass solo), all houses were represented in the final, each house in at least three of the four categories. It was Darwin’s performance of the unison song ‘Those Magnificent Men’ which won them first place in their category. ‘Magic Moments’ was the winning partsong, whilst treble Daniel Blaze with Howells’ King David, and baritone Vith Ketheeswaranathan with Butterworth’s Is My Team Ploughing were also awarded first prizes. Rory McKeon won the conductor’s baton for his preparation of the unison song ‘Rather Be’ – one of my favourites of the competition. 

I am delighted that the Tiffin Boys’ Choir was invited to return to the BBC Proms for a second consecutive year, and so, this summer term ended with the choir performing alongside the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Singers and Slovak Philharmonic Choir in Mussorgsky’s Khovanschina, broadcast on BBC Radio 3 from the Royal Albert Hall. This was, however, not the choir’s only appearance on national radio this term. One week earlier, Classic FM broadcast Tiffin Boys’ Choir’s 60th Anniversary Concert from All Saints’ Church Kingston. The choir of sixty was formed of more than thirty trebles, alongside recent alumni, including Gareth Johns, baritone soloist in the choir’s performance of Faure’s Requiem. Following their time in the choir, many alumni have achieved highly in the music profession, and Gareth is no exception, performing this year as a soloist with Welsh National Opera.

Just one day earlier, Tiffin musicians spent their day at the Rose Theatre. Here the Tiffin Boys’ Choir, Oratorio Choir, Children’s Chorus and chamber instrumentalists participated in a performance entitled ‘Sea Stories’. Directed by Jeremy James Taylor, the show included Britten’s Golden Vanity, performed by the Tiffin Boys’ Choir, Roxanna Panufnik’s Upside Down Sailor, performed by school instrumentalists alongside actors and musicians from the Royal College of Music, and Sinbad the Sailor, written by former Director of Music David Nield and performed by Kingston Children, including Oratorio and Children’s Chorus members. Performing these dramatic pieces in a space like the Rose Theatre was particularly rewarding and, after squeezing the dress rehearsals into just one morning, the pupils gave excellent matinee and evening performances, for which there was a royal audience, followed by an opportunity to meet and receive thanks from the royal guests.