Wind Band rehearsal will finish at the earlier time of 4.45pm tomorrow.

On another note, this year’s UVHS Christmas Festival has just been given the go-ahead from a Health & Safety perspective. It will be on Tuesday 14th December at 7.30pm in The Coro, however, tickets cannot be bought from The Coro – as soon as we have set up online booking through a company we will get the details out to parents. Capacity will be slightly reduced both in the Balcony and in the Stalls to allow for a little distancing, but seating will be unreserved.

Dear all – this evening’s Swing Band rehearsal is cancelled due to my absence from school today. We will meet next Friday when I will have the set list for Dickensian ready for you all. Many apologies – have a good weekend.

Our first Swing Band engagement of the year will be for Ulverston Dickensian Festival (assuming it goes ahead). We are playing from 4.15pm-5.15pm at the Market Cross on Saturday 27th November.

Please arrive by 3.50pm to set up the equipment. Concert uniform – warm!!! ‘6th Form Perf Arts’ hoodies for those that have them (with several layers underneath and gloves)

Our first gig of the year with the Jazz Combo will be on Saturday 20th November for the Winter Fair in The Farmers Arms @ Lowick – 12.30-1.30pm.

Please arrive by 12.00 midday to set up the equipment. Concert uniform tbc (but probably 6th Form Perf Arts hoodies if everyone has them)

All yr12 & 13 students involved in any of the school’s Performing Arts groups can now purchase our ‘Sixth Form Performing Arts’ hoodies using the link below – this is also open to ALL members of the Swing Band, even if they are in yr11 or below, as players can wear them for outdoor gigs if they wish. The hoodie shown on the order page (which says ‘Sixth Form Music’) is not the actual one we are now offering which, as said, is now ‘Performing Arts’. All orders are delivered to school and distributed by Mr B.

UVHS Music Department Bespoke Shop (conistonshop.com)

NYJO are holding their next Cumbria workshop on Sunday in Penrith. Please see the info below and register if you are interested (it is well worth it!!!).

Jazz Combo played superbly at the Open Evening on Thursday evening, especially as it is a totally new band with only 3 weeks of rehearsals under their belt. There will be no rehearsal this week, but we will resume every Wednesday evening from next week.

Wind Band are working really hard. After 18 months with no rehearsals everyone has lost out in terms of detailed ensemble experience, sight-reading and regular playing, but we are already getting back towards our trademark ‘big’ sound.

Swing Band have also been making great progress, and we are even considering whether to try a public performance before Christmas. Again, the last 18 months have taken their toll in terms of playing experience, but they are really getting back ‘into the swing of it’!

Junior Band, String Ensemble & Choir have had a couple of rehearsals so far and are trying hard to get back into regular ensemble work.

The smaller ensembles have also started rehearsals and are already getting to grips with their repertoire. As with all the other groups, it is not only the lack of regular playing (outside personal practice, that became very difficult over the 18 months in terms of motivation) that has had an impact but, more importantly, the lack of regular ensemble playing that had become such a feature of music in the school and the key to the quality of our performances.

Obviously, Covid-19 absence has disrupted everything over the last few weeks but as we get a little more continuity, the route back to where we were in March 2020 will seem a lot clearer and achievable. Many thanks to the dedication, commitment and enthusiasm of all the students giving up their time and really wanting to be part of the resurgence of Music at UVHS – Mrs H. and myself are so happy to be back rehrasing with everyone!!

The Marines will be once again holding ‘experience’ sessions this year, but they will initially be virtual (as last year). Details are below, and I would encourage as many students as possible to join the session this half term break, so that they can explore some of the opportunities open to them.

Please see the attached letter and contact information about joining Cumbria Youth Orchestra this year. I cannot speak highly enough of the value of playing in regional and county music groups – I myself came through the Lancashire Schools Music setup and have never looked back and can quite honestly say that I would not have gone on to experience what I have through music without it.

The Westmorland Music Centre (Kendal) has an open day on Saturday: the two main groups are a great opportunity for musicians to further develop their musical skills outside school, and I thoroughly recommend that UVHS music students look at what they could experience beyond the provision that we offer at school. Please see the attached flyer.