Page 4 - Abberley Adventures - Dec 2021

ABBERLEY ADVENTURES 4
Music
We have been extremely excited about the opening of our new Music School and Theatre. This fantastic area is now in use but finishing touches are still being put in place. Our wonderful new Music School has large, light and airy rooms for all of our individual music tuition as well as a new Music classroom and the beautiful Yates Theatre, now restored to its former glory. Theatre curtains and a lighting rig are being installed in early January. The official opening will take place in January and we look forward to hosting numerous events in this fantastic new performing space.
Because of our Covid outbreak, our ‘Night at the Musicals’ concert was sadly postponed. This is now scheduled to take place on Friday 14th January and we can’t wait. There will not be any further delays to this concert so whilst we plan on this being a live concert with an audience, if this isn’t possible then we will film it and send the concert out for everyone to watch at home.
We have enjoyed some wonderful Performing Arts Showcases this term and the Christmas Showcase was certainly the pinnacle. It has been lovely seeing so many children performing this term and so many other children supporting the performers. All schools claim it, but it is so clear to see that the Performing Arts really are central to school life at Abberley and these showcases are proof of this.
The Carol Services were a big focus for the Junior and Chapel choirs. The Juniors learnt Silent Night, Gather Around The Christmas Tree, Le Sommeil de L’enfant Jesus and Love Shone Down. The Chapel Choir performed Ave Maria by Caccini, Nativity Carol by Rutter, Midwinter by Chilcott, Noel Let Us Sing (a traditional French Carol) and the choir’s favourite, Gaudete! It was such a treat to return to Witley Church for our services this year and the children performed their carols, readings and prayers superbly.
Congratulations to Amor Vermaak who achieved a Distinction in her Grade 6 piano this term. Good luck to those children who are preparing to take music exams in the Spring.
Drama
We were sad to have to cancel our Community Drama Project this term which meant that our Year 5 and 6s were not able to do their performance of Ebenezer. This was especially disappointing because we had started rehearsals with a lovely group of children from two local primary schools. However, there will be opportunities later in the year for these children to show off their talents on stage.
We had a wonderful Nativity Play put on by the Pre-Prep and EYFS, which the whole prep school thoroughly enjoyed watching. Congratulations to the children and teachers in the Pre-Prep for putting on such an amazing show.
We also had much excitement during the final two weeks of term as the Senior Musical, Matilda, was announced. After some competitive auditions, casting took place and roles were announced just before the end of term. Pupils have been given scripts or song booklets so that they can start looking at lines over the Christmas holidays. Rehearsals will start straight away when we return in January and the full rehearsal schedule will be available soon. Please note that we have earmarked some Sundays for rehearsals and these are marked on our school calendar on the website.
We have had a full program of Performing Arts Showcases and it has been wonderful to see performances from younger pupils who only started LAMDA after Half Term. Our LAMDA exams take place on Monday 31st January and all pupils should have brought home their pieces to learn over the holidays. Please contact Mrs Eynon if you have any questions by emailing clare.eynon@abberleyhall.co.uk