Striking A Chord: Musical Creativity Thrives at Southborough

The music department at Southborough High School has established itself as a vibrant hub for artistic expression, fostering a deep-seated musical creativity amongst its students. With lunchtime clubs running every single day, the department provides an open-door policy where students can simply pick up an instrument and play. For those eager to dive deeper, additional instrumental tuition is offered throughout the year to complement formal class lessons. This immersive approach is clearly hitting the right note, as evidenced by the growing number of students opting to study GCSE Music each year.

From the Royal Albert Hall to Festive Harmony

The academic year has been packed with high-profile opportunities designed to enrich the curriculum. Earlier in the year, Year 10 and 11 GCSE Music students travelled to the iconic Royal Festival Hall at the Southbank to participate in the BBC Bright Sparks event. This spectacular workshop offered a detailed analysis specifically tailored to support the GCSE listening paper across all exam boards. Surrounded by a capacity crowd of eager young musicians from across the UK, Southborough students gained invaluable insights into their set works.   

Closer to home, the school’s musicians and the Year 7 and 8 choir took centre stage at the annual Christmas Concert. Performing to a packed audience of spectators just before the festive break, the ensembles gave traditional Christmas carols a unique modern twist, spreading festive cheer and showcasing the rewards of their hard work.

Rhythms of Wellbeing and West End Workshops

In January, the department played a pivotal role in the school's annual 'Wellfest' event, which provides students with practical strategies, tips, and resources to maintain healthy mental well-being. Southborough’s musicians put their hearts and souls into the day by playing the djembe—large African drums—throughout the event. The upbeat, energetic rhythms set an incredibly positive and happy tone, perfectly demonstrating the therapeutic power of communal music-making.            

The creative energy has continued into the current summer term, with Year 7 students delighting in a specially devised Hamilton workshop. Designed to forge a stronger connection to musical theatre, the project gives younger students the freedom to express themselves through a popular karaoke-style format, encouraging confident solo and group performances.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Rock Stars

Just last weekend, Year 10 GCSE students experienced the local music scene first-hand with a trip to The Fox and Hounds in Surbiton. They attended a gig by Mania, an energetic sixth-form college band known for their covers of classic rock songs, who recently launched their debut single, 'Your Mama's Crazy', in April 2026.

The gig held a special significance for Head of Music, Mrs Yendoll, and her classes; the band’s drummer, Alex Bartlett, is a former Southborough student who studied GCSE Music at the school. Seeing an alumnus thriving on stage proved highly inspirational and motivating for the Year 10s as they prepare for their own practical GCSE performance examinations.

With the music department doors always open, students are continually encouraged to step inside, try something new, and see what the musical calendar has in store next.