Spring Term rehearsals/events

 Due to Mr L-O'K's absence we will hold the whole school concert in March

and the instrumental solos concert in December

JB WHOLE SCHOOL MUSIC CONCERT 2026

March, date t.b.a – 6:30pm

Great Hall, Frognal

Dear parents,

On the above date UCS Junior Branch will be giving its annual whole school Music Concert in the Great Hall at Frognal.  This is always a wonderful occasion where every boy in the school has the opportunity to participate in music-making before a large audience.  

The list below is not the full, detailed programme, but the run of the concert is as follows:

·       Orchestra

·       Year 3 choir (this involves EVERY BOY IN YEAR 3)

·       Guitar Ensemble

·       Year 4 choir (involving EVERY BOY IN YEAR 4) 

·       Recorder Ensemble

·       Junior Choir

·      Woodwind Ensemble

·       Year 5 choir (involving EVERY BOY IN YEAR 5) plus Percussion Ensemble

·      String Ensemble

·       Year 6 choir (involving EVERY BOY IN YEAR 6) 

·       Big Band

·       Senior Choir

The Concert begins at 6:30 pm, and the boys must be in the Great Hall and seated by 6:15.  Boys in the Orchestra, Guitar Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble and Big Band need to arrive by 6:00pm to tune up and warm up.  All boys are required to wear their full winter uniform with a white shirt.  

The concert is expected to be 1 hour and 20 minutes in length.

The event will be recorded and livestreamed (the link will be sent out the afternoon of the concert), so we politely ask that no flash photography be used in the Great Hall.  In the interests of preventing interference with sound systems and of keeping concert length to a minimum, we also ask that electronic devices be turned off for the entire performance. Due to space it is also important that each boy bring no more than three guests.

The boys have been working very hard towards this year’s concert and look forward to having you all as their most supportive audience.

Thank you,

Stephen Lanigan-O’Keeffe (MUSIC CO-ORDINATOR)

Dear Parents,

On each of the above dates, UCS Junior Branch will be holding an instrumental concert for each year level, showcasing the talent emerging at the school. 

This is not a whole school event and your son will only be required to attend if performing a solo piece.

Please read the following thoroughly to find out the requirements of each concert.

With the number of boys learning instruments now at an all time high, it has become necessary to implement the following:

1.     Solos are limited to a maximum of 45 seconds *years 3 & 4) or 60 seconds (Years 5 & 6) in the interest of keeping each concert to under an hour in length.  Boys playing at Grade 4 level or above will, understandably, have longer pieces, but are asked to choose pieces as close to 60 seconds as possible.

2.     Boys will be required to audition their concert piece in the fourth week back after half term (week beginning Monday November 25)) during either of their class’s two music lessons.  Pieces that are at performance standard (or close to it) at these auditions will be heard in the Spring Concert, while pieces still needing time to perfect will be heard in informal class concerts at a later date. 

3.     Auditions are also open to those learning instruments outside school.

4.     Boys who will not be auditioning for this concert are:

·       Nike’s beginner guitarists and all electric guitar pupils  (their showcase is at Guitarfest, end of Summer Term). 

·       Boys learning drums and percussion  (their showcase is at the Percussionfest, end of Summer Term). 

·       Boys are required to bring their instruments and music to the concert. 

·       Parents, grandparents, godparents, etc. are warmly invited, but please no more than THREE GUESTS per boy due to space in the hall and in compliance with school healthy and safety policies.

·       We expect all guests to stay till the end of the concert to avoid disruption and so that every boy gets the opportunity to perform to a full audience.  

·       As the concert will be recorded on video, we kindly ask that all devices be switched off during the concert.

Looking forward to seeing you at these special musical occasions,

Stephen Lanigan-O'Keeffe, 

MUSIC CO-ORDINATOR