MUSIC at King’s

Music is a cornerstone of life at King’s with countless opportunities for pupils of all abilities to get involved.

Music is part of daily life at King’s. All pupils are involved in music in some way or another: alongside weekly singing at matins, all students participate in congregational singing practice, as well as an annual House Music competition, which features large-scale performances in addition to smaller ensembles and solos. The year traditionally ends with a major concert in Rochester Cathedral, which will include performances of concertos by some of our leavers and choral music from the Senior Choir.

King’s School Rochester has been proud to educate the choristers of the cathedral for over a millennium, and this is an opportunity open to all pupils from Year 4-8.

Our team of 18 peripatetic teachers expertly guides our student musicians on every orchestral instrument in addition to piano, organ, guitar, bass guitar, drum kit and voice.

Music scholars receive free instrumental lessons on two instruments and have regular opportunities to perform solos. A number of music scholars have also won local and national competitions, such as the Rotary Young Musician of the Year competition, and have been prizewinners at events such as the Tunbridge Wells Arts Festival in 2024. King’s musicians have also recently been members of the National Youth Orchestra and currently participate in the National Youth Concert Band, Kent County Youth Orchestra and English Schools Orchestra.

At King’s, we wish to develop all the aspects of the holistic musician. Opportunities to perform and collaborate with their peers provide students with memorable musical experiences and enable peer-to-peer mentorship within musical groups. Younger students benefit from working alongside their more experienced colleagues.

King’s Music department runs multiple partnerships with local primary schools, and puts on events focused on orchestral music and choir singing. A team of music scholars deliver music workshops to primary schools in our area every Friday afternoon, and this year the workshops culminated in a performance of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

“Singing in the choir has really helped me develop my sight-reading. I love singing with other people and enjoy all the repertoire we perform.”
Ava M, Remove (Y9)

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