Cranford_Review_June_2015

Spring Term Music News
We
have been lucky enough to attend two separate trips with NOfA (The National Orchestra for all) during
the Spring term 2015.
On Friday 9th January 2015, a group of 12 talented NOfA members travelled into London to play at the launch
of the second year of the NOfA project. We were invited to attend as one of the highest achieving schools in the
programme last year, to showcase our talents and what the programme can offer. Our students performed the NOfA
Winter Groove alongside students from Feltham Community College as well as talking to music teachers interested
in joining the programme. They were very professional and did both Cranford and the NofA organisation proud.
Thank you to Mr Wain who accompanied us on the trip.
This was followed by a second trip on Saturday 14th March 2015 when an additional group of dedicated NofA
students travelled to Stratford where we played an arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet” ballet with
other musicians from schools across London. It was another of NOfA’s fabulous modulo days, where students’
musical skills and creativity are really stretched as they perform as part of a huge orchestra. They had practised
some of the music in advance but also managed to learn part of this challenging score from scratch on the day.
Cranford students worked with real commitment and expertise and both I and Ms Sethi, who
also accompanied the trip, were very proud of their hard work and commitment
to music.
Leah Mirsky (Music Department/NOfA Orchestra Leader)
Easter Concert Showcase
The
Cranford Easter Concert, held on Wednesday 18th
March 2015, showcased students’ diverse range
of talents. We had performances ranging from Teodor Jevtic’s
(9U) very technically skilled classical piano performance, to
the Choir’s heart-warming rendition of Superhero and Glow; from Sadip
Gurung (9U) and Ryan Aujla (9U) playing an exciting Dhol remix
of Still D.R.E to a range of fabulous band performances showcasing
students at a range of experience levels throughout the school.
The highlight of the evening culminated in Cranford’s
NOfA ensemble playing an arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s
“Romeo and Juliet “ballet. The National Orchestra for
All (NOfA) is an organisation that aims to provide any
enthusiastic student, regardless of ability, with opportunities
to participate in ensemble music making. Last year they
launched the Conductors for Change (CFC) project which
supports schools in expanding these opportunities and
performing music together. Our school’s ensemble is made
up of 30 students from key stage 3 and 4 who all played together in
an exhilarating performance.
The school’s NOfA ensemble is currently rehearsing
in W Factor and are preparing for another concert,
building on the success of the last, which will be held
in the Memorial Garden on Wednesday 8th July 2015.
Leah Mirsky (Music Department/NofA Orchestra Leader)
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