Dateline: Wednesday July 04
Mr Banks reports a successful quiztime at the monastery and updates us with these photographs

Dateline: Tuesday July 03
Mr Banks reports that the party has been having a good time, including a swimming session, prior to the concert in Chiampo on Sunday evening. The concert was a great success receiving a standing ovation. The next day was spent in Venice with even hotter temperatures of 36 degrees. However, imitating the British weather, there was a downpour and welcome drop in temperature to 23 degrees!
Dateline: Thursday June 28
Mr Banks confirms that the Concert Tour 2012 touched down safely in Venice to be greeted by temperatures of 34 degrees Celsius and that everyone is happy and well.

With its elevation to Music College Status, All Hallows Catholic School has been able to build upon its success and reputation that has been established over that last few years. The department has expanded considerably and now has four music teachers on the staff, 13 visiting instrumental specialists, a music technician,100 pupils taking GCSE music, 14 extra curricular bands, choirs and orchestras, 3 community music groups, a concert tour abroad every year, a production of a full musical, live music in assembly every day and performances in the community. Around 300 children receive instrumental tuition and this is reflected in the popularity of the bands, choirs and orchestras – the largest choir has over 100 members.

The diversity of the extra curricular groups is a particular feature ranging from 16th century madrigals being sung by the Close Harmony Group to the latest hits perfomed by the Boys Choir. The wide range of music on offer continues with a Folk Band, funk jazz in the Jazz Band, Swing Jazz in the Big Band, Baroque music in the String Orchestra, songs from the shows in Cantamus, Latin Music in the Percussion ensemble and so on.

At KS3 all students receive 2 periods of music per week with the emphasis being placed upon practical music making supported by active listening and aural perception. Music is also taught at GCSE, AS and A2 with students gaining places in recent years to read music at institutions such as Cambridge University and The Royal Northern College of Music. There are several Music College community initiatives..

Violins Together is a project that enables pupils from feeder schools to learn the violin in groups and participate in a weekly massed violin orchestra. Currently 60 pupils from across the area are involved in this.

Voices Together is a community choir that boasts a membership of around 60 with ages ranging from 9 years old to those in retirement – parents, students, friends, governors and teacher sing just for the fun of it.

Farnham Area Youth Orchestra started in September 2010. This has filled a gap in the area’s music provision with students from any local school attending the weekly rehearsals.