About Chetham s School of Music

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1 About Chetham s School of Music Chetham s is an exciting, contemporary Music School, offering a dynamic music programme to complement its cosmopolitan city location in Manchester. With 290 students, aged 8 18, Chetham s is the largest Music School in the UK, and is the only Music School based in the North of England. What matters at Chetham s is talent, not background or ability to pay - the School prides itself on accessibility, with 90% of students receiving financial support through the government. Through a cutting edge music programme, students enjoy exciting musical opportunities, often through collaborations with the region s cultural lights on projects and initiatives. Students develop a specialist interest to the highest professional level and all students receive choral training. A vibrant concert diary presents students with the opportunity to perform on a variety of platforms we programme over 300 events year, which are featured in our Events Guide produced twice a year. The new School building houses state-of-the-art facilities and a recording studio with a 100-seat recital hall and a 500-seat concert hall. The concert hall is due for completion in 2017 and will provide even more opportunities for performance within the School. As a widely celebrated international Music School, Chetham s is one of the North West s best assets in terms of its international appeal - students from around the globe study at the School and currently come from as far afield as China, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Spain, Germany, Russia, and Brazil. Students also enjoy much success on the competition circuit Yuanfan Yang recently won the Cleveland International Piano Competition. Alexander Bone won the inaugural BBC Young Jazz Musician Award. In 2010 and 2008 a third of semi finalists at the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition were Chetham s students. Former Chetham s students include cellist Guy Johnston, who picked up the Best Newcomer award at the Classical Brit Awards in 2002, pianists Peter Donohoe,

2 Paul Lewis and Stephen Hough, organist Wayne Marshall and conductor Daniel Harding. French horn player and jazz pianist Gwilym Simcock also recently picked up two Rising Star titles at the British and BBC Jazz Awards and a Mercury Award nomination. Peter Moore, at 18 years old, was appointed as co-principal trombone to the London Symphony orchestra in 2014, he is the youngest person to be appointed to such a position. Chet s - a brief history Chetham s lies at the heart of medieval Manchester and features prominently in the history of the North West - it is an architectural gem with buildings dating back to The School is named after its benefactor, Humphrey Chetham, who was born in Crumpsall in Chetham was educated at Manchester Grammar School and went on to be a prosperous Manchester merchant, making his fortune in the textile business. When Chetham died in 1653, he left money to buy and convert the medieval buildings into a school to educate forty poor boys and a library for scholars. Today, the library is the oldest surviving public library in England, and is famously known for Karl Marx studying there in 1845! Incredibly, over the next 300 years, there were very few changes to the School. By the late 19 th century, numbers had increased to 100, and, remarkably the entry process continued to follow the same pattern as set by Chetham a written examination followed by an interview with the trustees. It was in 1952 the School changed to an independent grammar school and began to receive financial support from the local education authority. By this time, facilities for choral work and orchestral playing had earned the School a national reputation for music and, in 1969, the School became a co-educational boarding specialist Music School, accepting young musicians purely on musical potential. In 1980, Chetham s became part of the government s Music and Dance Scheme, ensuring all young people have the chance to attend a specialist music or dance school, regardless of their financial background. Today, Chetham s is the largest Music School in the UK with 290 students, aged eight 18; 90% of students are funded through the government. Nearly 400 years ago, Sir Humphrey Chetham had a vision for his School around the idea of giving opportunity to forty poor boys. Today, Chetham s is proud to continue what its benefactor started, by providing today s young musicians with the best opportunities to develop and reach their full potential.

3 The Music Programme Through the music programme, Chetham s students grow into fine musicians but, of equal importance, become caring, receptive and considerate young adults, with the power to enrich other people s lives through their music making and understanding. Stephen Threlfall, Director of Music With talent and passion comes dedication over a third of our timetable is devoted to music, so students can expect to study music three hours a day plus practice time. The Chetham s music programme is varied, dynamic and packed with opportunities; areas include instrumental and vocal study, aural training, chamber music, orchestral training, choral work, academic study, composition and music technology. All students have a principal study and usually a second study instrument, and can look forward to two individual lessons a week on their principal study and a further lesson on second study. Individual practice is also scheduled up until the Sixth Form. One of the most loved features of the programme is the Music Course, which takes place three times a year. Over seven ten days, there are no academic lessons and students focus solely on music, culminating in a series of exciting performances at a leading national venues such as The Bridgewater Hall and the Royal Opera House! Twice a year, there are assessments by external examiners, presenting the opportunity for each student, their teacher and Head of Department to review progress together and offer encouragement, guidance and advice on specified areas. Chetham s has an award-winning reputation for its participatory arts project and programme of work in the community, which it develops in collaboration with major charities. Chetham s is also a Choir School and educates the choristers from Manchester Cathedral. Academic Study Chetham s has an outstanding academic record with over 90% of students receiving A-C grades at GCSE & A-Level. Chetham s students follow the full academic curriculum, which accounts for two thirds of their timetables each week. Junior School, Years 4 6 There are students, age eight to ten, in Chetham s Junior School. They are taught by a specialist primary school teacher for all subjects except Art, Music, PE and Drama for which separate tuition is given. Students broadly follow the National Curriculum guidelines in all subjects, including Key Stage 2 testing in the final year of the Junior School. Lower School, Years 7-9 Students follow a general curriculum of Music, English, Maths, Science, German, French, History, Geography, Art, RS and PE. GCSE choices are made in the Spring / early Summer term of Year 9.

4 Middle School, Years 10 & 11 Students take seven or eight GCSE subjects, which provide a sound balance alongside the specialist music programme. Subjects at GCSE include Music, English, Maths, Single or Double Science, German, French, History, Geography, Art, Drama and RS. ICT is incorporated into the delivery of all subjects. PE continues to be taught on timetable and is offered as a recreational subject. Sixth Form, Years 12 & 13 Students study three or four AS Level subjects, and continue with either two or three subjects for A2 Level. Students intending to apply for University are strongly encouraged to take three subjects at A2 Level. All GCSE subjects, except RS, are offered at AS / A2 Level, plus Music Technology. Of course, every student studies A-Level Music! Sixth Form timetables include five hours a week for each academic subject, accompanied by Key Skills (in Year 12), PE and an individually tailored music programme. Life after Chets Results at A-Level are consistently high, which keeps choice open for students after Chetham s. We are proud that the majority of students leaving Chetham s have the best range of opportunities to choose from. Here is some information about Higher Education destinations you can find more details on our website, Around two thirds of students continue their musical studies at a Conservatoire popular choices include the Royal Northern College of Music, Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Trinity College and Birmingham Conservatoire. Around a quarter go on to University, most to read Music, but also other subjects such as Law, Medicine, English, Languages and Engineering. Several leavers are accepted into colleges at Oxford or Cambridge University each year recent subjects include Music (of course!), Law, English, Geography and Maths.

5 Pastoral Care Everyone who visits Chetham s comments on the warm and friendly atmosphere and the real sense of community felt within the School. This undoubtedly grows from the fact that Chetham s is home as well as School to two thirds of our students. Boarding at Chets Over 60% of students board at the School and live in one of the Houses, which is their home during term time. There are three boarding houses Victoria House is mixed and accommodates 8 12 year olds; Girls House accommodates all girls, aged 12 18, and Boys House accommodates all boys, aged House Parents Every student has a House Parent who is responsible for a student s welfare and happiness whilst they are at School and plays the role a parent would play at home. They look after students during term time and are always available to sort out any problems or just for a chat. The House Parent is also parents first point of contact for any issue and we always encourage contact from them. Parents and friends are always welcome to visit and we re always glad to see them. At the weekend Saturday mornings are dedicated to music - orchestral rehearsals, ensemble work or practice. Saturday afternoons and Sundays are free and younger students can enjoy a great range of activities from cookery classes to treasure hunts, whilst older students usually prefer to manage their own time with friends. On Sundays there are also opportunities for students to attend a place of worship of their own choice in Manchester. The School closes completely every third weekend and students return home to parents or guardians from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening. Exploring the city centre and surrounding countryside Students enjoy the culture on our doorstep and the opportunities the city offers on a daily basis. In Manchester, there is excellent shopping available and numerous art galleries, cinemas, theatres and concert venues to experience. Younger students are taken out shopping by older pupils and go on trips to places of interest every weekend. All students are encouraged to take part in recreational activities. These vary from swimming, gymnastics and squash to outdoor pursuits and going on trips and excursions. Personal and social education encourages students to become conscious of their own health and well-being. Living at Chetham s is a happy, busy and enjoyable experience. The overriding expectation is that you treat everyone else as you would expect to be treated yourself. We are a School which attracts students from across the UK and the world, and our students develop a natural awareness and tolerance of different views, beliefs and cultures. Further information about Chetham s can be found at