MUSIC

Festival Trip to Aldeburgh

Music pupils travelled to Aldeburgh Festival in Suffolk. Their visit included a day at the festival, fish and chips on the beach and posing with the famous "Scallop" sculpture on Aldeburgh Beach which is dedicated to composer Benjamin Britten.

During their visit, our Lower Sixth Form pupils had the opportunity to talk to internationally acclaimed composer Cassandra Miller shortly after a premiere of one of her works.

We set out under a gentle morning sky, sandwiches neatly stashed in blue coolers as we headed out for the Suffolk coast. GCSE and A Level students of the Music Department had long awaited a return to the Aldeburgh Festival and the time had at last arrived.

Aldeburgh, the festival's eponymous seaside town, was our first destination upon arrival. It had become the final home of Benjamin Britten, who founded the festival in 1948, and students were fortunate enough to visit the composer's residence at the Red House for a guided tour. We looked around both the gardens and the interior rooms of the complex, which varied in character from 17th-century right through to 20th-century design; the fingerprints of Britten's life were left exactly as intended, even to the position of furniture. After our visit, we pressed on to the coast for Aldeburgh's coveted fish and chips, and equally admired ice cream. All students thoroughly enjoyed playing on the beach and were just as moved when visiting Britten's parish church and final resting place.

The main functions of the event actually take place about six miles west of Aldeburgh at Snape Maltings, where we witnessed extraordinary musical talent in two concerts of both contemporary and Renaissance music. It was also a wonderful experience to meet and chat with the composers of both contemporary works, who shared their general insight and wise encouragement. Our concert programme included music performed by vocal ensemble EXAUDI, as well as Britten's Violin Concerto and Sibelius' Symphony No. 5. It was after our last late-night concert that we were finally ready to make our way home. A huge debt of gratitude is owed to Mr Craig, Mr Young and Mrs Renz for running the trip, as well as Ms Lonie for all her excellent organisation.

John-Ellis, Lower Sixth Form