School Ensembles

Senior Orchestra

Eight years ago,the Senior Orchestra consisted of twelve string players, one flute and one saxophone playing very simple music. The orchestra is now one of twenty four ensembles with over two hundred and eighty students that rehearse on a weekly basis. The large majority of the students started playing on the Instrumental scheme where all students have lessons in a small group situation, taught by graduates from the best conservatoires in the UK. The Senior Orchestra is now a disciplined well organised team of musicians who are able to tackle challenging and diverse repertoire and perform to a high standard. Many of the students have represented the school at FOBISIA Music Festivals in Hong Kong, Thailand and Indonesia. The orchestra has played at WOWFEST in the UK and toured Scotland. The students have also experienced working with professional conductors Jonathan Mann, Scott Murphy, Eugene Pook and Kevin Field.

Intermediate Orchestra

The intermediate orchestra is a steppingstone for our young musicians to progress from the training orchestra and to prepare for the more advanced senior orchestra, playing diverse repertoire such as music from The Greatest Showman and Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks. It has also recently expanded to include wind players and caters to students from both the primary and secondary schools, with a focus on musicianship and playing as an ensemble.

Training Orchestra

The Training Orchestra is a group of students playing the violin, viola or cello at grade 2-4 level. They come together once a week to gain an understanding of playing as a team. They have successfully performed at Christmas concerts and the Primary instrumental concert finishing off the year with a bang.

Senior Strings

The Senior Strings was founded in 2015, with twenty students ranging from an advanced level in their string playing to students who have only ever learnt throughout the school instrumental scheme. As well as performing in school concerts the ensemble has performed at many prestigious events such as the Queen’s birthday and the visit of Princess Anne. Many of these students went on the trip to Wells Cathedral School in the UK and as a result of playing alongside professional string groups they have begun to choose their own repertoire including music by Piazolla and other contemporary composers. They also perform repertoire from the Baroque period all the way through to modern film music and are highly experienced in awareness of styles and genres required.

String Quartets

The string quartet is composed of four of our gifted and talented students who rehearse independently. They were recently invited to perform in a Music Festival where they competed against professional players. There are many string quartets in school across the whole age range who are encouraged to work independently. They are supported by the string tutors who give advice on repertoire and rehearsal techniques.

SASS Band

The Sass Band was put together by Sangwon Ha, a sixth former at BSKL. The Sass band is composed of, one drummer and a guitarist, two trumpets, three saxophones, three trombonists - albeit a small ensemble, a vibrant addition to the ensemble programme. Sangwon wanted to be unorthodox and wanted to play music that was unconventional compared to all the other musical ensembles in school. Subsequently, he had the idea of merging the brass ensemble with the saxophone ensemble into a new band. Despite the fact that staff play in the band Sangwon was responsible for the artistic development of the ensemble.He had the responsibility of selecting certain musical pieces that were fun to listen to and play. The Sass Band specialises in Pop music, Pop rock, Brass funk and other exhilarating pieces of music. Some specific examples include High Hopes - Panic! At the Disco, Brooklyn - Youngblood Brass Band, Danza Kuduro - Don Omar and Funkytown and I feel good - Lucky Chops. The SASS Band played at the final of BSKL Primary Idol last year and their showmanship and technical ability was an inspiration to the younger students.

Big Band

The Big Band rehearses weekly after school on Tuesdays, where the members learn how to play in a large jazz ensemble to an advanced level. The band plays a mix of classic swing and popular pieces, giving the students the chance to learn how to swing, balance within a section and develop groove, feel and sight-reading skills. Playing to a high level, the band is audition and invitation based. Big band provides the opportunity both for younger aspiring players to grow to an advanced level for school, while also preparing more advanced players for real world playing opportunities.

Concert Band

The Concert Band was formed two years ago and has over 40 members. The band had previously been made up of Year five and six students.  However, from next year, students from Years seven and eight will also join the band. They will learn how to play as an ensemble and give them the experience at intermediate level. The Concert Band has performed in many school concerts over the years and some members have travelled to Hanoi to play at the NAE festival. They were the only students of their age to participate in such a prestigious event.

Senior Wind Band

The Senior Wind Band comprises students in Key Stage 3 and 4 where they are taught the skills which will prepare them to participate in concerts and music festivals or to move into the Senior Orchestra. The band music repertoire plays from marching band pieces to soundtracks, and not to forget some signature band repertoire! The band participated in a workshop hosted by Philharmonic Winds of Malaysia here in school where these young musicians got the chance to play alongside professional musicians and educators over the course of a weekend. And many of the students attended the first NAE Music Festival in Hanoi in 2019.

Sax Ensemble

The Saxophone Ensemble started in 2014 and has since grown into a vibrant and rich sounding ensemble with all the instruments of the saxophone family. Due to the incredible progress the group has made over the years, these musicians are able to approach pieces of an extraordinarily impressive standard and now have a prolific repertoire from composers of a wide variety of styles.

Senior Brass Ensemble

The Brass Ensemble started in 2016 with four dedicated students who were able to play lots of small ensemble repertoire. The group has grown in numbers and now has a variety of repertoire from film music to popular music and brass ensemble music. They have performed at Inverness Cathedral and at Gordonstoun School and are regularly featured in BSKL’s Remembrance Assembly. Recently this more advanced group of brass players has played arrangements of Bohemian Rhapsody and Elgar's Nimrod in school concerts and on tour to Scotland. They also recorded a virtual performance of the theme to Schindler's List, featuring Zhihan Hu on solo violin. When Paul Murphy visited the school from Juilliard he was extremely impressed with the standard of performance of the students as the ensemble was playing music that he had performed at Juilliard as an undergraduate.

Brass Band

The Brass Band was formed in order to incorporate students whose only exposure to brass playing was during SIPS lessons.  They explore the repertoire played by British Brass Bands with a focus on contemporary composers. Many of our experienced brass players play with this ensemble to support the students and in doing so experience the variety of different styles of music created exclusively for Brass Band in a fun and sociable setting.  Music is specifically arranged to motivate and push these musicians according to their individual needs and strengths. Whilst the band is still in its infancy, they have already performed music from The Hunger Games and have prepared a medley of anime themes based on the students' own suggestions.

School Choirs

We have three school choirs who frequently perform at school events throughout the year. For many children, singing is their preferred form of musical expression. For others it is a useful complement to their instrumental training. Recently all three choirs participated in the FOBISIA Virtual Choirs Festival.

Senior Choir

This year has involved not only Key Stage 3 students but Sixth formers which has meant that they have been able to tackle demanding four-part harmony. Their first performance was at the Remembrance Day Assembly where they performed a very moving rendition of "Fields of Gold" with a string quartet accompaniment. Students from this ensemble participated in the AIMS Choral Festival where they performed repertoire as diverse as Skyfall with a symphony orchestra accompaniment and Da Pacem Domine. Many of the choir also performed in the Secondary production of West Side Story.

Primary Choirs

The primary choirs give our young singers the opportunity to develop their vocal dexterity and perform together regularly as a group. They explore vocal expression, technique, and general musicianship skills through learning a variety of repertoire by different composers, in different styles and genres, as well as through singing games, rounds and chants. This enables them to develop the confidence to blend their voices in unison and be in more than one part to create beautiful harmony together in performance.