Music
Music is at the heart of life at Aysgarth. It is a subject that is exceptionally popular and the School enjoys starting the day with a hearty singing of a hymn in the chapel accompanied by the magnificent pipe organ.
Every Saturday starts with CONGO which is congregational hymn practice to ensure
the pupils are familiar with the hymns for the week ahead and especially the hymns for Sunday Service. The result is seriously rousing hymn singing that frequently threatens to take off the chapel roof. Our choir consistently succeeds in bringing smiles to the faces of all attendees, evoking goosebumps with their wonderful singing.
Over 80% of the boys learn a musical instrument. Since Covid, the musical instrument take-up has been particularly strong in the lower years where almost every boy learns an instrument. Singing lessons are popular too, all of the Year 7 pupils in the senior choir take individual singing lessons.
All pupils are given a timetabled daily music practice session of 30 minutes.
Music drama is very strong, with senior performances of The Lion King, Matilda and Joseph in recent years. The juniors also do an annual musical; this year it was The Jungle Book.
There are regular visitors to the school to work with and inspire the boys, including well-known vocal coaches and senior school instrumental ensembles. The department's links with feeder school music departments are very strong and we have recently done music workshops with Shrewsbury School and Ampleforth College.
Pupils regularly win music scholarships to senior schools. Last year we had awards made to Shrewsbury, Sedbergh, and Oundle.
Senior Choir
Aysgarth is renowned for the strength of our Senior Choir and pupils are as proud to wear the red ribbon of a senior chorister as any sports captain is to wear his cap or striped blazer. Our 30-strong choir of auditioned pupils is very much in demand outside school. Recent performances have included choral evensong at Liverpool Cathedral, a lunchtime concert at Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral and a memorial service in London.
Our senior and junior choir perform annually at the Macmillan Ripon Cathedral Service which has helped to raise over £40,000 every year.
In April 2024 the senior choir toured Northern France and Belgium, performing a concert in Ypres Cathedral. The choir had the distinct honour of providing the musical accompaniment for the solemn and poignant Last Post ceremony at Menin Gate.
Arts at The Pre-Prep
Individual music lessons for piano, keyboard, cello and recorder groups are taught by Mr Andrew Nelson in the Pre-Prep department. Lessons on other instruments are available from the Prep School.
Mrs Evelyn Wilson runs a Pre-Prep Choir one lunch time each week.
Creative elements in the curriculum also include: art, craft, dance and role play. Ballet is is offered as an after-school activity.