b'MINI INTERVIEW WITH MAX RUEFFMaxs first concert was in the spring of 2018 when he played in the school brass ensemble. Since then, he has performed in almost every concert. I also remember him playing in his own band in the Summer Concert of 2018 with Tom B., Atharv B. Brass Ensemble Performanceand Pratham P. I hear you ask, Whatever happened to them?As his time at KEVI HGS draws to an end, I Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Conservatoire. The brass ensemble isthought it might be an opportune moment 18th March 2024 comprised of students from Year 7 throughfor Max to share more about his life in music to Year 13. It was wonderful to watchand his plans for the future.Services for Education (which runsand hear our students working togetherWhen did you start to learn an Birmingham Music Service) offers schoolsto produce such high-quality music. Theinstrument, and which one was it?across the city the opportunity to performevening concert was well attended and theThe first instrument I started to learn was in their concert series. Our brass band wasboys, with their teacher, Mrs Miller, did athe piano. I was about four years old. again invited to perform at the magnificentfabulous job. My teacher was called Mrs Green and I Concert Hall in the Royal Birminghamhappened to see her very recently.What other instruments do you play?I also play drum kit and trumpet/cornet.INSTRUMENTAL PROGRESS EVENING What ensembles do you/have you played for?Big School, 21st March 2024 (piano), Brandon S. (guitar), NicholasAt school, I play in the school orchestra 41 students performed to a large,B. (violin), Mikael M. (saxophone), Joeand brass ensemble and used to play in enthusiastic, nearly full Big School atM. (guitar), Sanjeevan C. (piano), Richiethe jazz band. Outside of school, I play our Instrumental Progress Evening. OurR. (viola), Sebastian F. (trumpet), Alvinin the Birmingham Schools Brass Band, annual concert was an exciting opportunityC. (violin), Ziheng Y. (clarinet), Arjun B.Birmingham Schools Symphony Orchestra for our budding musicians to show off(violin), Guanghi L. (tuba), Mohammed Z.and Birmingham Schools Jazz Band.their developing skills. The majority of(guitar), and Abel S. (violin). The eveningBest musical moment so far?performances came from the boys in Yearsalso included performances by our YearPerforming at the Royal Albert Hall in 7 and 8, but with a few Year 9 boys who7 guitar ensemble, string ensemble, dholNovember of 2023 with the Birmingham have taken up new instruments thrownensemble, woodwind ensemble and ourSchools Symphony Orchestra as part of the in the mix. We also had the support ofjunior keyboard ensemble. There was aMusic for Youth Festival.a few more experienced Year 9 and 10range of styles and themes throughout the performers who played in ensembles tonight, with our woodwind team coveringWhat are your plans for next year?support our beginners. A grateful shout- much of the repertoire of John WilliamssI am planning to go to the University of out to Daniel A. in 10N who supported film scores. We were greatly impressedManchester to study for a joint honours and performed with the woodwind by our future rising musical stars anddegree in Film Studies and Music. It is a players as their teacher was not able toappreciate the support they receive fromthree-year course.attend the concert. their amazing peripatetic music teachers inFuture career?We were favoured by solo performancesschool and the support of their family andI want to be a film director/writer/composer.from Tiziano P. (saxophone), Oscar C.friends at home who encourage and spur (piano), Ziona P. (flute), Hritik B. (violin),their progress on to greater heights. WhatBest memory from your time at KEVI Sukhmandeep S. (trombone), Glory A.will these performers bring us in the yearsHGS?to come? Great things, we are sure! I think I can speak for many when I say that one of the best moments from HGS was the whole school photo from two years ago. I remember clearly how everyone cheered when Mr Organ arrived at the astro, and laughed when the photographer yelled SCHOOL. We dont have many opportunities to come together as an entire school, and it was nice to feel like we were all part of something special.Our wonderful brass teacher, in performances and preparing them for Emma Miller, is leaving us at the endexams. We wish her every success for the of the academic year to work in onefuture.of the citys primary schools as aMrs Miller pictured above (top of page) music specialist.with our brass ensemble at the Royal She has been with us since SeptemberBirmingham Conservatoire2017 and has been a fantastic member ofMrs and Mr Wardthe department, supporting our students 61'