At the end of February the annual Foundation Chamber Music concert took place in Warwick Hall. Chamber music helps develop excellent listening skills for our young musicians, building their musical independence, their confidence and leadership skills and enhances their technical and expressive skills. It was an evening of the highest quality music making, where all performers and leaders were pupils and a wide variety of ensembles and musical styles were displayed. The audience were 'piped' back to their seats after the interval by our Renaissance Consort from their very own minstrels gallery, the distinctive 'rasp' of the crumhorns summoning everyone back to the concert hall!

Our partnership with the Orchestra of the Swan goes from strength to strength and it was wonderful to welcome pupils from across the Foundation and from some of the Primary Schools in the town to their "Four Notes and the Truth" concert which included a stunning performance of Elgar's Cello Concerto, performed by cellist Sterling Elliott. Their artistic director also brought a string quartet to workshop the student compositions from our Year 12 across the three senior schools, giving them all a really unique opportunity to hear their music performed at the highest level. Do look out for their new series "The Swan Sessions" based at St Nicholas Church, Warwick, the next one of which take place on 16 April.

The Foundation Spring concert in March brought together more than 150 talented musicians from across the Foundation for an exceptional evening of musical excellence. The event showcased a true spirit of collaboration and inclusion, bringing together musicians from across the whole Foundation community. All of the large Foundation Ensembles performed in a varied programme for music from Bernstein (both Elmer and Leonard) through to Yoko Takahashi. The Junior Foundation Symphony Orchestra started the concert with a joyous performance of 'Radetzky March' by Richard Strauss and "Rites of Tamburo" by Robert Smith. This performance was all the more remarkable as this was a result of a one-day workshop at the beginning of the week. Other notable collaborations included a really moving performance of "Hymn to the Fallen" by John Williams where the Foundation Wind Orchestra were joined by the massed voice of Canticum (the Foundation Choral Society) and the King Henry VIII Consort.

Our String Ensemble, Symphony Orchestras, Vocal Ensembles (King Henry VIII Consort & Canticum) and Wind Orchestra exemplify the outstanding opportunities available to our pupils, offering them the chance to perform to a professional standard under the guidance of our specialist staff and within our world‑class facilities. The standard of performance on the night was nothing short of remarkable - fully aligned with the calibre expected of seasoned professionals on stage.