Mrs A Sarkar-Samuels - Subject Leader

Mr D Rogan

Music is very important at St Mark's School and it makes a big contribution to the life of the school.

Our outstanding department encourages and nurtures music making by young people and to give them access to as many different musical experiences as possible.

All students at St Mark's School have music lessons once a week in year 7, 8 and 9. We have a thriving GCSE and A-level music department, in which we cater for all types of musicians Rock or Classical. We teach a range of exciting topics from Mozart to Hamilton and Reggae to Pop, just to name a few!

We work closely with Hounslow Music Service where students can receive individual or group 1-1 lessons on chosen instruments. Lessons on Brass, Wind, Strings, Guitar, Percussion, Steel Pans, Rock School and Voice are available.

We have fantastic facilities at the school which consist of a professional quality recording studio, ensemble room, live room, five practice rooms, Drum room and music technology suite with 20 up to date Windows PCs with the most recent software: Noteflight, Cubase and Bandlab.

All rooms have been acoustically treated to provide the highest quality audio performance. This is one of the most advanced Music suites in the borough.

Every week a number of activities take place in school time and as extra curricular lessons.

• Senior Choir
• Rock band
• Orchestra,
• Whole School Choir
• Composition club
• Keyboard club,

The department also puts on a fully staged musical in conjunction with the Drama department. Recent shows have included Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver!, The Sound of Music, Grease, Annie, Hairspray, Fame and The Wedding Singer, Sister Act and Moana. The shows runs for three nights and are usually sold out.

The choir is very important at St Mark's. Every student in Year 7 and 8 have weekly choir rehearsals before school on a Wednesday where students learn to sing in harmony and cover a range of styles.

The orchestra also performs throughout the year and they also provide the music for the musical. Throughout the year students have the opportunity to work alongside professional musicians in masterclasses and side by side concerts.

Each year the department runs a Choir festival. We invite our Catholic Primary schools to perform two pieces of music. This is then followed by a massed choir performance. Recent performances have included; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar and Mamma Mia.

The department has also forged important links with professional musicians:

The Sonas Quartet have been working with students and members of the orchestra 

Soweto Kinch visited St Mark's for National Music Week. Giving a Jazz master class to Music students

English National Opera have also spent time at St Mark's working with students

Denys Baptiste who is a well known jazz saxophonist and ex-pupil is very much still in touch with the school performing his hugely successful "Let Freedom Ring !" Inspiring another generation of musicians.

The Hounslow Music Service also use our facilities for rehearsals and as a concerts venue.

London College of Music Students from the College work within the department as part of their course.