We still have several tickets available to go and see the acclaimed 1974 Broadway hit musical, Mack and Mabel, starring the legendary Michael Ball, on Thursday 22nd October. This trip is open to students, staff and parents (and their friends).

This spectacular show is based on the real-life romance between Hollywood legends Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand and tells the story of a group of pioneering film-makers in the silent movie era of the 1910s and 1920s. Musicals’ star Michael will play legendary Hollywood silent screen director Mack Sennett. The show features an acclaimed score by Jerry Herman including musical hits I Won’t Send Roses and Time Heals Everything. The dazzling musical comedy is both a poignant love story and a riveting tribute to the grit and glamour of the era of silent movies. The show received eight Tony Award nominations when it opened on Broadway.

The tickets are for prime seats in the stalls at Manchester Opera House and the £54.10 cost also includes transport to and from UVHS – the coach leaves at 16:00hrs and there will be a food/refreshment stop en route.  We expect to return to school at about 00:15hrs.

Please email Mr Butler if you would like to join us: rbu@uvhs.uk

REMINDER:  there is a ‘Friends’ meeting tomorrow evening (5th October) at 6.30pm in the Memorial Meeting Room (old staffroom) in A Block.  All parents are welcome (shouldn’t last longer than 1 hour).  Posters for the Christmas Festival will be available (and will be given out at tomorrow’s rehearsals).

The first batch of dates are now in the calendar at the top of the homepage  –  more details will follow about these, as well as more engagements as they come in.

Here is a copy of the letter sent out today in the Wind Band rehearsal. It will also be distributed at Junior Band on Thursday.

Also – another bed has been found for Kennet School!!!  Many thanks to the family who made that offer .

Band letter

Due to unforeseen circumstances, I am having to change one of the host families for the Kennet Band visit.  I now urgently need a bed for a Year 10 female student (sax player).  If any UVHS Band player’s family (Year 9, 10 or 11 – doesn’t have to be a sax player) can accommodate her please email me asap  –  I would like to get details out to all host families tomorrow.

This weekend, both the Big Band and Swing Band are out and about giving everyone a chance to hear some top-quality music from our brilliant students.

Saturday 20th  –  BIG BAND @ The Old Friends (Sautergate) from 20:15 – 22:00 (in the beer garden marquee)

Sunday 21st – SWING BAND @ Grange Bandstand from 14:00 – 16:00

Both events are FREE.  Please publicise them amongst friends & colleagues and on social media – it would be great to have big audiences to play to!

There will be a meeting of Friends of UVHS Music at 6.30pm on Tuesday 9th June in the small dining room at school.

We will be organizing the summer concerts, arranging the Christmas Festival and discussing further fundraising for the Wind Band Tour to Salzburg.

All parents of musicians welcome

Saturday 20^th June        Reduced Swing @ Newlands – 6.30pm (private)

Saturday 20^th June        Reduced Swing @ The Old Friends – 8pm

Sunday 21^st June           Swing @ Grange Bandstand – 2pm

Monday 22nd June       Sax Ensemble @ Prizegiving – 6pm

Saturday 4^th July           Swing @ Market Cross – 11am (carnival)

Monday 6^th July            Chamber Concert @ UVHS – 7pm

Friday 10^th July             Wind Band Concert @ The Coro – 7.30pm

(with Kennett School Wind Band)

Saturday 11^th July         Swing @ LowickFest – 6.00pm

(with Kennett School Soul Band – BBQ, Bar, ice cream etc)

Wednesday 15^th July     A Night At The Musicals @ The Coro – 7.30

A reminder that the REDUCED Swing Band is playing at Holker Hall tomorrow, performing at 12.00 and 2pm in the covered bandstand area.

Those students playing know who they are and received a letter last week with all the arrangements.  We are taking 7 saxes, 3 trumpets, 2 trombones, drum, bass and piano.

Please make sure you are wearing full swing band uniform (with t-shirt underneath for warmth if necessary), and bring a waterproof for when we are not playing.