Music
About the Department
Click here to download the Expressive Arts: Music, Drama and Art brochure
Recent recordings from the Music School can be found under Music News.
The purpose of Music at Loretto is to give every boy and girl the opportunity to experience the joy of creating and appreciating music, and to make the subject accessible to everyone no matter where their particular talents and interests lie.
The Music School was opened in April 1990 and contains a suite of practice rooms, a classroom and the Peter Wood Memorial Concert Hall with brand new Boston Concert Grand. A recording studio leads off from the Concert Hall and is equipped to professional standards with 24-track digital recording and editing facilities, (computer and hard disc based), CD writer, various rackmount units and Yamaha S80 synthesiser. Pupils are able to make their own CDs led by tuition from a Recording Studier.
There is a team of 21 visiting music staff, which teach a wide range of instruments and make weekly visits to the School. Many pupils are already experienced in an instrument when they arrive at Loretto, and currently over 65% of the School have at least one music lesson a week. Individual instrumental tuition is usually arranged in half hourly slots with a visiting member of staff.
Teaching and Learning
On entry into the Third Form all pupils take weekly class music lessons where they are taught how to find their own voices, tryinstruments out and to appreciate a wide variety of musical styles. In the Fourth Form pupils can take a two-year course leading to GCSE (OCR) music. There are two sets in each year group each receiving four lessons a week. Our policy is that music is entirely non-selective and any boy or girl can do GCSE music if they so desire. In the Sixth Form pupils may take a two year A Level course or a one year AS course (Edexcel).
Activities
The school has made a number of recordings in recent years including Highland Cathedral and In these Four Walls – a celebration of 175 years of music at Loretto and featuring the whole School, the Loretto Pipes and Drums, the Senior School Choirs and the Nipper Choir.
Loretto has a flourishing Pipes and Drums Band
The Chamber Choir and the Small Choir have a large repertoire of music for Chapel and Concerts. The Chamber Choir toured Belgium two years ago and there is a planned tour to France next year. The School Orchestra performs regularly throughout the year and meets weekly. There are numerous other groups which visiting staff organise including flute groups, string groups, brass groups, a jazz and wind band and close harmony groups. Rock bands are also actively encouraged.
The tradition of the Whole School singing hymns and anthems in harmony dates back to the School’s earliest times.
Music
Edward Coleman (Director of Music)
Edward studied as an Undergraduate at the University of Sheffield whilst holding the post of Sir Henry Coward Organ Scholar at Sheffield Cathedral. On graduating he was awarded the Philip John Lord Prize for gaining the highest marks for original composition and won a Scholarship to study for the M.Mus in composition and organ performance. Following two years as Assistant Director of Music at King William’s College he came to Loretto in 1995 as Assistant Director of Music and Chapel Organist. He was appointed Director of Music in 1999. As well as appreciating music in all its facets and diversity Edward is a keen golfer and d.i.y. fanatic and also enjoys spending time with his young family.
Matthew Brown (Assistant Director of Music)
Matthew initially trained at Cardiff University before completing a Master’s degree in composition at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) in Glasgow. In addition to teaching three days a week at Loretto, Matthew also works for the RSAMD and “Scottish Opera for All”. He continues to write music in a variety of styles and genres. Recent works have included music for film, theatre and concert performances by various groups including the Hebrides Ensemble, the BT Scottish Ensemble, Celtaidd and a televised concert featuring the Sirenian Singers. Matthew is very much enjoying his second year working in the music department at Loretto.
Colin Pryde (Piping Instructor)