Beaumont School Music Department

I meant to post this before half term. Many thanks to Eddy Willson for the tip-off: Cistercian monks, who are based in a monastery in a Vienna forest, have been recording a CD of plainchant in response to an advert in the Catholic press by the recording company Universal . The choir of monks from the monastery Stift Heiligenkreuz will not be touring to promote their CD, remaining adamant that they "sing to God, not to people". It will be interesting to see how popular their CD (aptly called Chant: Music for Paradise ) will become. Click here to read more about this project and here to find about more about Stift Heiligenkreuz. For more information about their CD, click here (the two latter links are in German) or search "Chant" in the iTunes Music Store.

You may have heard the rumours, but it's now confirmed! The students on the Musical Theatre course at the Royal Academy of Music will be putting on a production of Company as their final showcase. We have managed to get tickets for an evening and have planned a trip to see this production on Friday 20th June 2008 at 7.30pm . Those of you in Year 9 should have received a letter in your trays; year 11 and 12 students should come and collect a letter from me ASAP, certainly before half term. Reply slip and payments should be handed in by Friday 6th June please. Click here to go Royal Academy of Music's website.

I know that Year 12 have been working hard already but perhaps you might consider listening to this very recent Jazz Library Radio 3 interview with Trumpeter Clark Terry (aka 'Mumbles') last Friday. "Mumbles" has performed with many well-known jazz musicians in his time, including Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Oscar Peterson. Recordings with these musicians can be heard in the interview. Listen again by clicking here or subscribe to the Jazz Library podcast here . You never know, it might help your Section C answers...

Many thanks to the BSA for inviting the Music Department to provide items for its AGM last Wednesday. Last year the Concert Band performed, but as the group has grown significantly over the year, it was clear that they would not fit into the 6th form common room or the library. Luckily, the members of the Vocal Ensemble were able to step in and provide entertainment of the highest quality, singing some of their favourite numbers from 2007-8. Thanks to you all for attending, particularly those of you on Study Leave. Thanks also to the members of the group who volunteered to move the piano across to the library, despite one of its wheels falling off...

Who would have thought it could be possible? In the USA, the Detriot Symphony Orchestra recently held a performance conducted by Asimo the robot. Click here for more details.

This weekend on Radio 3 promises to be an exciting Chopin Experience . There will be programmes dedicated to Chopin, exploring his life and times, the enduring popularity of his music, and his musical legacy. Useful and interesting links on the website include a Chopin tutorial video with advice and tuition from David Owen Norris (pianist, teacher and broadcaster). You can also find a Chopin Timeline and an Audio Quiz , which will be quite useful for general revision and preparation for A2. Click here to go to the main Chopin menu on the BBC Radio 3 website.

The grand final of BBC Young Musician of the Year will be taking place this weekend. Coverage will be on BBC 2 and BBC4. Please click here to find out more details. I hope you tune in to what promises to be an exciting final!

The Vocal Ensemble's trip to the King's Singers' 40th Anniversary Concert at the Cadogan Hall was a treat for all involved. We enjoyed many choral delights, including Time Piece and I'm a Train . Everyone had their own favourites but Shenandoah was a really special moment for the Ensemble. Some of the group also bumped into the well-known composer Bob Chilcott , former King's Singer and arranger of our beloved And So It Goes, as well as Stephen Connolly , the bass of the group. The King's Singers have a Myspace page to which you can go (and become their friend) by clicking here . Their new album, Simple Gifts is available for purchase by clicking here or downloading it from iTunes.

The scripts for Company have arrived! Please go and see Miss Shepherd to collect your copy. You may annotate them in pencil only and DO NOT LOSE THEM. More anon.