Summer Orchestral Weeks: Lights, Camera, Action

From rehearsals to the big screen!

The second week of our summer residentials brought a cinematic flair to Sherborne School as our 13–14-year-olds filled every room with music, energy, and imagination.

Each day included sectional and full orchestra rehearsals, building on young musician’s skill and understanding of the music, taking their playing to the next level. Spontaneous bursts of The Lion Sleeps Tonight kept the mood light and playful, and the orchestra threw themselves into choreography for Pérez Prado’s Que Rico Mambo, combining music and movement in a dazzling display.

This week also saw an explosion of creativity online, which we shared through our socials. There were mysterious harp covers wandering the halls of the Sherborne School, playfully pranking the percussion and double bass sections. We had fantastic musical moments from the double bass, percussion and bassoon sections, and a very iconic reel from the trumpet section. Under the guidance of their trumpet tutor, Ryan Linham, they performed Ghostbusters wearing bedding and pillowcases as ghosts, putting together a real show that you can see on our Instagram. The flute section created a Pirates of the Caribbean reel, performing the music while taking viewers on a pirate adventure with magic sheet music and a piccolo.

Surround Sound, led by Raph Clarkson, gave the orchestra the opportunity to compose their own music under an overarching theme. Some groups explored ghostly scenes, others imagined underwater adventures, with more telling entirely fantastical stories. “One of the best things about the residential is that you really feel like you belong,” said one young musician. “Surround Sound is a great opportunity to share ideas with other musicians.” The children experimented with movement, layering of sound, and structuring their pieces, finishing with a lively sharing concert that highlighted their creativity and collaboration.

The week built to an exciting finale at the Lights, Camera, Action concert at Bristol Beacon. Conducted by Andrew Morley, the concert celebrated film music and storytelling. Our young presenters delivered their introductions in a movie-trailer style, sharing insights with dramatic flair that brought the programme to life. From Pirates of the Caribbean to Raiders March and Howard Shore’s Fellowship of the Ring, every note transported the audience into the world of cinema. Audience participation during Ghostbusters led to cheers and a standing ovation, a perfect ending to such a musical week.

We cannot wait to see these young musicians again at their Winter Concert at Woolwich Works in November