News

To put a fitting end to what has been a fabulous year for the NHHS Music Department, staff and students collaborated on an end of term Summertime Festival. Parents, students and staff were treated to a fantastic showcase of music across three stages (one inside and two outside), a barbecue serving local produce, two bouncy castles and even an ice cream van.

Whilst guests sat and enjoyed their food and refreshments, they were entertained by the fantastic Steel Pan Ensemble who played a range of songs to reflect the summer weather. GCSE Music students also showcased their rhythmic talents in the African Drumming ensemble, shortly followed by the ever fantastic Brass ensemble, who made two appearances.

The Soul band set the tone for The Gristwood Stage, with summer vibes galore. Soul band then made room on the stage for the singer ensembles performing a myriad of pop songs and songs from musicals. The staff band (supported by sixth form Music Technology students) also took to the outside stage to perform covers of popular songs, entertaining to adults and children alike. Following this, both the Soul Orchestra and Kitchen Sink showed off their virtuosic talents with confidence and style. The stage was closed by a DJ set, showcasing the skills learnt by A Level Music Technology student Leonie over the course of the year.

The festival culminated in a set of large ensemble pieces in the main hall, with opening performances from the Cello and String groups, followed by the Clarinet and Oboe ensembles. The Concert Orchestra and the Guitar Ensembles showcased some of the largest ensemble pieces that the students had put together.

The finale to the evening consisted of all students coming together with the staff to perform several pieces, astounding the audience with clear amount of hard work put into creating what turned out to be a wonderful event for all who attended.