DIRECTOR OF MUSIC, ST GEORGE'S COLLEGE SEPTEMBER 2021 - St George's Weybridge
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DIRECTOR OF MUSIC, ST GEORGE’S COLLEGE
SEPTEMBER 2021
Notes for applicants
St George’s College is seeking to appoint a dynamic individual as Director of Music from September 2021;
The position of Director of Music is a key post both for the School and wider community, and the successful
candidate will be a highly-qualified and skilled musician able to lead the department with vision, clarity, and
energy.
DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW
The College enjoys a fine international reputation for the excellence and variety of its
music. The Music Department comprises the Director of Music, two further full-time
staff, twenty two visiting teachers (self-employed) and a part-time Music Administrator
(4 days per week). The full-time members of music staff teach throughout the College
with a varied timetable that incorporates all years and the visiting music staff offer
tuition in all disciplines in addition to singing (changed and unchanged voices), organ
and harp. Several also run ensembles within the department and many teach both
within the College and the Junior School (located approximately one mile away in
Weybridge). The Music Department at the Junior School is comprised of a Director of
Music, a further full time member of staff, and two part-time teachers; links between
the two departments are extremely well developed.
Music plays a prominent part in the school’s life and is keenly supported by pupils, members of staff and
parents. The Department houses a Recital Room (seating up to 110, with a permanent recording facility
installed in 2016), a large classroom equipped with 24 PCs running Sibelius 6, Cubase, and Audacity, three
further small study/teaching rooms, eight practice rooms (each with a
piano/clavinova) and a store room with lockers for pupils to store their
instruments, in addition to department stores. The Department also has its
own Gamelan, Samba Kit, set of African Drums, Roland digital harpsichord,
and several staff offices; Large scale choral and orchestral concerts take
place in the College Chapel (seating 800) which houses a three manual
organ by Hugh Banton (installed in 1999) and a Yamaha C7 Grand Piano;
funds are in place to commence the search for an appropriate redundant pipe
organ for installation in the Chapel. A whole school musical is staged in
collaboration with the Drama department approximately every three-four
years and the First Year cohort perform a semi-staged musical at the start of
each academic year. The Parents’ Society actively supports the music
making and recent funding has covered projects including the purchase of a
set of posture chairs for the Orchestra and a Recording Room.
CHORAL MUSIC
Choral and liturgical music are a core long-standing part of the
school’s tradition and the choirs enjoy an outstanding international
reputation in this regard. Performance opportunities for pupils are
varied and numerous with several choirs catering for changed and
unchanged voices of all ages. The College’s flagship choir, the
Chamber Choir is an auditioned ensemble; The College Choir is
open to pupils in all years (mixed SATB). Both choirs sing a wide
and varied repertoire of music. The Chamber Choir in particular has
an active schedule which includes concerts within school, external
engagements, recordings, broadcasts, and tours. Previous tour
destinations have included America (East and West Coast), Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, and
Spain. The Chamber Choir was the 2012 BBC Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year and Barnardo’s
Senior School Choir of the year. In December 2015 the choir won the Eagle Radio Carol Competition, and
the choir was also a finalist in the 2016 BBC Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year Competition. The
choirs released their first CD in December 2010, I am the Day which sold out in 3 weeks raising over £7000
for the Josephite mission in the Congo. Since then they have recorded 3 further discs, releasing the most
recent one in November 2015, Follow that star. In addition to termly concerts there is an annual choral concert
combining the school choirs with the Choral Society choir, made up of parents, staff, past students and
musicians. These concerts have been accompanied by the College’s professional orchestra, Sinfonia, or
period ensembles. Recent works include Michael Haydn Requiem, Carissimi Jephthe and Jonah, Bach
Johannes-Passion with The Brandenburg Sinfonia and Monteverdi Vespers (1610), with The English Cornett
& Sackbut Ensemble. College singers have benefitted from masterclasses with Bob Chilcott and Edward
Higginbottom.
The Music Department was at the heart of the College’s 150th anniversary celebrations, singing Vespers at
Westminster Cathedral in September 2019. The combined choirs of the Junior School and College were
joined by professional soloists and players from the Royal Academy of Music to give premiere performances
of DragonSong, a specially commissioned oratorio in five acts in the College Chapel and at St George’s
Hanover Square (January 2020).
The choirs play an integral role in the life of the school, providing musical accompaniment to key occasions
including the annual Requiem Mass, Founder’s Day, Service of Nine Lessons & Carols and St. Joseph’s Day.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Over 250 pupils take individual instrumental/voice lessons each week
and there are numerous ensembles which instrumentalists participate
in including a Camerata (for string
players), the College Band and the College
Orchestra), and several other chamber
groups some of which are run by visiting
music staff or by the students themselves,
such as . Several rock groups flourish
within the department thanks to specialist
tuition offered through our Rockshop programme and the College also offers
complimentary grade 5 theory classes and training for the aural aspects of music
examinations. Pupils are encouraged to participate in an ensemble as soon as
they are able to, and several run their own groups and rehearsals. To support this,
the College has an extensive concert schedule over the course of the year,
including larger concert performances at the end of term, services of worship
celebrating major feasts eg Armistice Day, Ash Wednesday, Founder’s Day, Remembrance Memorial
Service, St George, St Joseph, St Peter, community projects, the music-live Concert Series (lunch time and
after school short recitals), Inter-house Music Competitions, and workshops and masterclasses with
musicians such as Ian Clarke, Mike Simpson, The Harpham String Quartet, and the Zephyr Ensemble.
MUSIC IN THE CURRICULUM
Music is a core-subject in the first two years with our First and Second
Years (NC years 7 & 8) receiving three lessons per fortnight and it is
an option in the Third Year (NC year 9). A ’Songs from the Shows‘
concert performed by the First Year cohort each year in October is
a particular highlight. Since September 2016, the Junior School has
provided every child with a term of tuition as part of the Year 3 and 4
curriculum. The Lower School music course caters for musicians of
all types. Topics range from World Music to Baroque, Classical and
Romantic studies, Popular, Jazz and Film music. The course
incorporates opportunities for performance, composing, music
technology and developing listening skills. Pupils may opt to take Music for GCSE (Edexcel) and A-Level
(AQA) and there is currently one set in each of the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Form year groups. St George’s is
linear at A-Level; pupils study 3 subjects, the EPQ, and compulsory RE in both Sixth Form year groups.
Academic standards in music are good with pupils attaining A*-B at GCSE/A-level.
GEORGIAN MUSICIANS IN THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND
The College music department has a long held tradition of
welcoming pupils from local schools to participate in outreach
events, and each year there is a choral and instrumental day;
these usually involve around 100-120 children at each event.
College musicians regularly take the opportunity to perform in the
locality and we have fostered good relations with St James’ Parish
Church and Christ the Prince of Peace in Weybridge, and St
Paul’s Church, Addlestone, alongside numerous local care
homes. Further afield the department fosters excellent links with
our Josephite schools in Europe through participating in the
biennial Music Day in Belgium, in addition to singing and performing in
Cathedrals within the UK, Europe, and USA. Whilst at the College, Georgian
pupils have successfully gained places in the London Schools’ Symphony
Orchestra, National Children’s Orchestra, National Youth Choir, National Youth
Jazz Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra and various regional youth
orchestras and choirs. In recent years pupils have won instrumental
scholarships to the major conservatoires and universities both here and
abroad, and Oxbridge Choral and Organ Scholarships. Many are now working
within the music business themselves as singers, instrumentalists, music
producers, and academics. In May 2014 the College hosted the MMA music
conference for teachers, during which a number of distinguished artists within
the music profession including Ashley Solomon and Peter Stark worked with
the children and music teachers from all around the UK. Recent collaborations
with the Drama Department include a fully-staged production of The Sound of Music.
MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS
The College offers music scholarships and exhibitions to pupils at 11+, 13+ and 16+ who show promise and
ability at interview through a practical audition, written test, and viva voce. All music scholars receive
mentoring, contribute to, and participate in a personalised musical programme. Scholarship holders are
expected to perform well academically and musically, and a major review is undertaken in the Fifth Year prior
to entry to the Sixth Form. There are currently 24 music scholars/exhibitioners at St George’s.
APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR OF MUSIC (SEPTEMBER 2021)
Following the appointment of the current post holder to a Deputy Headship, St George’s College wishes to
appoint a Director of Music from September 2021. The College is seeking a highly-qualified and skilled
musician to lead the department, maintaining and building upon the current traditions and high standards in
place. The successful candidate will be an accomplished musician with excellent subject knowledge and
keyboard skills, a proven track record of teaching in a selective secondary school up to and including A-Level
and be able to inspire, encourage, and support pupils to excel in their music making at all levels.
The Director of Music will be responsible to the Head, via the Deputy Head (Academic) for the overall delivery
of all aspects of music making in the school, specifically (but not limited to);
• the School’s musical philosophies and aspirations
• the content, structure and shape of the music curriculum, including teaching a timetable of class
music throughout the College
• the provision of co-curricular music, including accompanying pupils, coaching and directing
ensembles as agreed according to candidate strengths
• planning and co-ordinating the annual programme of musical events, to include masterclasses,
trips, tours and recordings
• the department budget and resources
• fostering links with the wider community including St George’s Junior School and the College
Chaplaincy
• performance management of full-time and part-time staff alongside advising the Head on the
appointment of all music staff
• continuing to develop links with the music profession, and representing the College through
organisations such as Trinity Group, Music Teachers’ Association
• liaison with local schools, including hosting outreach events and working within the community
• advising the Head with regard to the awards of music scholarships
The successful candidate will be energetic and creative, able to demonstrate an inherent passion for music,
and able to foster good relations with colleagues, parents, and pupils alike. They will possess outstanding
communication and organisation skills, well developed ICT skills, and be able to think strategically using their
initiative. They will be able to lead by example setting high standards, and be committed to their own
continued professional development. They will be fully involved in the extra-curricular life of the school,
including supporting House activities and assemblies, and will be in sympathy with the school’s Mission
Statement.
CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
The salary will be dependent upon experience and qualifications.
The College participates in the D/E Teachers' Superannuation Scheme.
The College adheres to the current statutory requirements for retirement procedures.
St George’s employs personnel who are best qualified for the post without any discrimination in favour of
race, colour, gender or national origin. All staff must be able to support the Mission Statement of the school.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE A completed Application Form and covering letter outlining your suitability for the post, together with the details of two referees should be forwarded to the Headmistress’ P.A., St George’s College, Weybridge Road, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 2QS or by email: headmistress@stgeorgesweybridge.com. The closing date for application is 4pm on Thursday 4 February and interviews will be held w/c 8 February. However, please note, applications will be reviewed upon receipt and shortlisted candidates may be invited for remote interview (via Teams) at short notice.
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