Music at Forest is thriving, through steady growth and commitment, we have a culture that encourages pupils to take part and to take pride in what they do.
One of the most striking aspects this year has been the sheer level of participation. Record numbers of pupils have entered ABRSM examinations across piano, voice, violin and brass. Preparing for these examinations requires perseverance and patience, and it has been particularly pleasing to see so many pupils willing to engage fully with that process, supported at every stage by their teachers.
A similar picture emerges when looking at performance opportunities beyond the school. Entries to both the Heaton Mersey and Alderley Edge Festivals have reached record levels, with Forest pupils representing the school in significant numbers. To step onto a platform in a competitive setting requires a lot of courage, and it has been encouraging to see that willingness to take part so widely shared.
Among these collective achievements, there have also been some exceptional individual successes. JC and CT are to be congratulated on reaching the National Final of the ISA Young Musician of the Year, an accomplishment of considerable note given the standard of competition. JC has gone on to achieve further distinction by securing a place in the Grand Final of the Bellevue Young Musician of the Year.
Running alongside all of this is a long-established part of the school’s musical provision: the annual visit for Upper School pupils to hear the Hallé Orchestra at the Bridgewater Hall. While it is a familiar fixture in the calendar, it remains an important one. The opportunity to hear live orchestral music performed at such a high level within a professional concert setting, continues to play a valuable role in broadening pupils’ musical understanding and reinforcing the standards to which they themselves aspire.
And how can we leave out Lower School? Years 1 and 2 have recently completed a unit of work based on ‘The Lark Ascending’, producing work of a genuinely impressive standard across all musical dimensions: listening, composing and performing. There has been a clear sense of imagination and musical awareness in what they have created, alongside a willingness to engage thoughtfully with the music itself. They are, without doubt, two classes to watch as they continue their journey through the school.
