Visit from The Royal Northern College of Music
11 October 2017
In September, Andy Stott, Head of Popular Music at the Royal Northern College of Music, came to tell Stoics about the degree courses the College offers. A band called Young Monarch, which is comprised of current RNCM students, accompanied Andy on the visit and gave an outstanding concert of their own material to an audience of Stoics. This was a fantastic opportunity for those considering a career in the music industry to ask questions and to receive advice from the leader of the only course of its kind in the UK as well as aspiring professional musicians. It is refreshing to see that popular music is treated just as seriously as classical and jazz music is at the RNCM, and places on the course are hotly contested and granted only after a rigorous and competitive audition process. As part of the afternoon, there was a workshop for Stoics involved in bands or who have an interest in popular music. They received very useful tips on how to work as part of an ensemble, ideas for musical textures and how to create an effective and engaging performance. The atmosphere was electric following the workshop and all those who attended got a great deal from the event. I would like to thank Andy Stott and Young Monarch for coming to give such an inspirational workshop to the Stoics and we look forward to having them back next year. I would also like to thank the Stoics involved for their performances: Natasha Woods (Upper Sixth, Queen’s), Charles Rivington (Upper Sixth, Bruce), Max Campbell-Preston (Upper Sixth, Grafton), Sean Carslaw Tricot (Fifth Form, Grenville), Theodore Hayes (Fifth Form, Chatham), Henry Gauvian (Upper Sixth, Temple), Harry Middleton (Upper Sixth, Walpole), Amalia Aitchison (Upper Sixth, Nugent) and Arthur Marriott (Upper Sixth, Chandos).
Ben Andrew, Head of Keyboard