Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52MUSIC 30 The beginning of the academic year at Handsworth Grammar School is always particularly exciting and important for the music department because we discover the new musical talent. Yet again, we have not been disappointed. The beginning of the year was also a time of change as Mrs. Buxton, Head of Woodwind for Birmingham Music Service, joined the instrumental staff replacing Mrs. Whitling who left after more than a decade teaching at HGS. Our talented instrumental teachers deliver almost 90 music lessons each week on a range of different instruments. We currently offer musical instruction on piano, classical guitar, violin, viola, ‘cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone, recorder, dhol and tabla. At the end of the last academic year Martin Nguyen, one of the A-level music students, accepted a place to study music at The University of Keele, following in the footsteps of Jack Harris. The first big event of the year is the Winter Concert at Ladywood Arc on Thursday 17th December and was yet again another musical success. In a break with tradition several of the junior ensembles were on centre stage. For some of our year 11 and year 13 boys this is their last school concert. Mr. Conway successfully compered the evening for us heralding the end of the school term. The beginning of the spring term quickly arrived which means it is time for our annual year 7 trip to hear the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra at Birmingham Symphony Hall. This year Mrs. Vaughan brought all 150 year 7 students to this very popular and successful concert. In bringing all of year 7 we hoped to encourage and inspire all of the boys with the possibilities offered by playing an instrument and hearing live music. The number of A-level students this year swelled as we joined forces with King Edward VI Aston for the delivery of this subject. To celebrate this union a joint recital was held on Thursday 10th March in the recital hall in Aston’s music department. Lydia Liburd (year 12 harpist) and Balkaar Bhopal (year 10 pianist) were just two of the solo performers representing HGS. We look forward to next year’s event on home territory. Our annual Instrumental Progress Evening highlighted the range of promising talent in years 7 to 9. For some of our boys this is their first concert so I am pleased to report that all the performers gave a very confident and successful performance. Balkaar Bhopal (year 10) inspired the boys with his passionate performance of Chopin’s Minute Waltz. As the winner of Most Promising Young Musician 2016, he was invited to perform. The Young Musician of the Year 2016 competition is probably my favourite concert of the year – not because of the competitive side of the event but because we are fortunate to hear the best players in the school. This year seven students competed: Karl Frater (classical guitar), Josef Feiven (French horn), Godfrey Leung (piano), Camara Talburt (saxophone), Brandon Masih (classical Guitar), Balkaar Bhopal (piano) and Robert Frater (classical guitar). Our judge, Mr. V. Byrne, announced Godfrey Leung (year 9) winner of the Most Promising Young Musician 2016 trophy and Josef Feiven (year 12) Young Musician of the Year 2016. Our Summer Concert will take place at HGS on Thursday 14th July – we hope many of you will join us for this special event. If you are reading this article and you are a current student of the school it is not too late to start an instrument! If you are interested please speak to one of the music staff for further information. Martin Ward, Head of Music The beginning of the academic year at Handsworth Grammar School is always particularly exciting and important for the music department because we Music at Handsworth 30 which means it is time for our 10 pianist) were just two of the solo performers representing HGS. We look forward to next year’s event on home territory. Our annual Instrumental Progress Evening highlighted the range of promising talent in years 7 to 9. For some of our boys this is their first concert so I am pleased to report that all the performers gave a very confident and successful performance. Balkaar Bhopal (year 10) inspired the boys with his passionate performance of Chopin’s Minute Waltz. As the winner of Most Promising Young Musician 2016, he was invited to perform. The Young Musician of the Year 2016 competition is probably my favourite concert of the year – not because of the competitive side of the event but because we are