Really recommend students getting along to this at The Coro if possible. National Youth Jazz Orchestra playing Dizzy Gillespie:

Dizzy Gillespie Sextet – The Coro

Tickets are now on sale for the school production on Wed 19th and Thur 20th April at The Coro. Use the link below

A Night at the Musicals – The Coro

Fantastic opportunity for students in yrs7-11:

Just a reminder that there will be no Wind Band rehearsal tomorrow due to the Primary Dance Platform this week in the main hall. Likewise, there will be no Swing Band on Friday.

All lunchtime rehearsals and after-school show rehearsals are on as usual (Clarinet Choir & Sax Ensemble are GCSE recording sessions, Choir on Friday is just for yr11 singers and invited others).

Last minute reminder to those going down to Portsmouth on Monday morning – please make sure that school has been officially informed that you will be on work experience from mon-thurs (as this is not official school-organised work experience.

The school’s online form is here: Extended Leave of Absence Form (office.com)

(21) UVHS Massed Band with HM Band of Royal Marines Scotland 2023 – YouTube

(20) UVHS Wind Band with The Band of HM Royal Marines Scotland 2023 – YouTube

A huge well done to everyone in the Wind Band and Swing Band for two fantastic performances at The Coro this weekend.

Swing Band gave a highly enjoyable (and pretty intensive from a playing perspective) set with “Sing, sing, sing” going better than I could have imagined. I know that those in the Scotland Band who have never visited us in the past were absolutely bowled over by what the band achieved.

Wind Band again raised a lot of eyebrows both in the Marines and in the audience – great performances of what was for the most part new music that we only started rehearsing on 9th Jan!!

The students who had the opportunity to play in the massed band … well, what can I say? Amazing!!! So much pressure having only sight-read the music on Friday (and all the music being more difficult than anything we could tackle in Wind Band) – and again, endless admiration from the Marines.

I am a VERY proud ‘music dad’ to each and every one of you (and Mrs Heginbotham, Ms Reed and Mrs Green very proud ‘music mums’). It would seem that, following Covid, the UVHS music family is really getting back together. Well done!!

PS – Wind Band rehearsal til 4.45pm tomorrow – we start to look at the Tour repertoire (and Summer Concert). No rehearsal on Mon 13th (due to the Primary Dance Platform rehearsals in the Main Hall).

I have been given a spare ticket for Saturday night’s concert – 2nd row of the Balcony B20. I f anyone would like to take it in return for a donation to the Friends then please email me on rbu@uvhs.uk (it will be given on a first-come basis).

ALSO – many thanks to the 4 parents who have offered to help on Friday or Saturday evening, I really appreciate it… however, we need more! At least 1 more on Friday and at least 2 more on Saturday. Please email me if you are willing to help.

I desperately need help from some adults on both Friday and Saturday evening. We struggled at the Christmas concert with only 2 or 3 volunteers. Luckily some parents of past students stepped in when Mrs Green and myself had to go to get ready for the first half. Please come and help if you can.

FRIDAY: 2 people needed on the door to check tickets (everyone attendee needs to keep their ticket) as people come in. Needed from 7pm-7.45pm, then 1 person from 7.45-8.15pm. The doors into to the hall will be open so you can see/hear the Swing Band.

SATURDAY: 5 people needed to sell programs and sell raffle tickets (the raffle is our profit so we need to sell as many as possible – stunning prizes though!!!!!!). Needed from 6.35pm-7.30pm and then at the interval as well.