Oundle School
Music
Director of Music: Andrew Forbes
The Music Department occupies the old Georgian Rectory, now the Gascoigne Building, and provides an attractive and well-equipped environment for music education. The Department aspires to high standards in both performance and academic work, and its programme extends into almost every area of musicianship.
"Music for All" is a fundamental principle of the Department's work. In addition to the many music scholars and exhibitioners, there are some seven hundred pupils who learn a musical instrument. Over nine hundred individual music lessons are taught every week. Fifty full-time and visiting instrumental staff form an experienced and dedicated team, and ensemble coaching enables them to share their enthusiasm and expertise with pupils.
Participation in instrumental and choral ensembles, large and small, inspires loyalty, confidence and an appreciation of excellence. The School's Symphony, Chamber and String Orchestras, Oundle Brass, the Concert Band, the Symphonic Wind Orchestra and Big Band offer opportunities for pupils to perform in a wide variety of styles, and the Chapel Choir and Schola Cantorum maintain Oundle's strong choral tradition. There are also numerous instrumental ensembles, which perform regularly in competitions and concerts both inside and outside the School.