Esher Musicians Take to the Stage
With a wide range of performances to prepare for and enjoy, as well as concert opportunities further afield, it’s been an action-packed term for the Music Department.
Open Mic Sessions
This term marked the return of the monthly Open Mic sessions, held in the Music Performance Room during lunchtime. These events feature a mix of newly formed groups and fan favourites, offering students a platform to share their talent and gain confidence performing in front of a supportive peer audience.
Open mics are open to anyone from the College; you don’t need to be a Music student. Just sign up to play. The signup sheets are up on the music office door and when its during lunch, the session is limited to around 10 different acts. This gives our performers 5-10 minutes on the stage.
London Performances: Opera and Orchestra
In October, students attended a performance of The Turn of The Screw at the iconic London Coliseum, staged by the English National Opera. A particular highlight was witnessing one of our own 6.2 Music A Level students, Victoria Nekhaenko, take on the role of Flora. Victoria delivered an unforgettable performance, captivating the audience with her talent and stage presence.
In November, students visited the Royal Festival Hall to experience the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus. Conductor Robert Ziegler led a programme that included Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, with pianist Katya Apekisheva delivering a spellbinding performance.
For many students, this term marked their first encounter with live opera or a symphony orchestra, and the trips left everyone inspired. These experiences have provided a rich source of artistic inspiration and a deeper appreciation for the world of classical music.
Christmas Concert
The Christmas Concert was a huge success featuring our talented first and second year Music A Level students, Music Technology BTEC & Music Production Foundation Diploma students, College Band students and Jazz Band students. The audience was treated to a variety of acts from A Level Recital pieces, Acoustic duets, jazz pieces, to pop/punk/alternative/rock hits ranging from Cold Play to Radio Head to Fleetwood Mac.
This year, students in the new Music Production Foundation Diploma course took on key tech crew roles as part of their Live Events unit. From front-of-house audio engineering to lighting and stage management, the crew gained invaluable hands-on experience in live event production.
College Production Collaboration
The Music Department collaborated again this year with the College Production team to provide music for Daisy Pulls It Off. The Pit Band, composed of first and second year Music A Level students, was led by 6.2 student Joshua Jarvis, as musical director. Read the full story of College Production.
Looking Ahead: Music after Esher
The future looks bright for 6.2 Music A Level students, with eight applying to prestigious conservatoires such as Trinity Laban, Royal Northern College of Music, Royal College of Music, and Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Several students have already received offers, while others are interviewing for Oxford and Cambridge to study Music.