AMSI is the first MiSST alumni school, who having run the programme for 3 years are now developing their own classical music programme.
MiSST continues to support the school financially to further develop of ensemble playing. As am alumni school, students at AMSI can attend the MiSST programmes of Excellence
SRS are MiSST’s first special school and a cohort of 10 Year 7’s currently have weekly cello lessons. All are very excited by the programme and resources are being developed for use in other MiSST schools to use with children and young people who have particular learning needs.
Whitefield, our newest school, joined MiSST in September 2017 and currently have 150 students on the programme.
NNA began working with MiSST in September 2015 with a view to trialling the materials MiSST had developed for a younger age group. At NNA all children in Years 4 5 and 6 have the opportunity to learn a classical instrument through group tuition. The programme is strongly supported by the Headteacher and Governors of the Academy.
Ready to play @ Goldsmiths University
August 2017 saw Mount Carmel RC College close and reopen as the City of London Academy Highgate Hill. The end of the era was marked with a number of celebrations where the musicians not only played a key role but also played exceptionally well. The senior orchestra who have become skilled, accomplished and self-directed demonstrated the power of music and what can be achieved through regular, high quality group tuition.
Emmanuella and Gabriella are identical twins and have both thrived in music in the last 3 years. They have opted to do GCSE music and are exceeding expectations. Currently performing music that is Grade 4 standard, this represents a massive achievement from a programme of group tuition
The girls are very shy but through this programme, staff have watched them grow in confidence and are now, really coming out of their shells now.
Gabriella put herself forward for a solo for St. Luke’s and it was wonderful to see how confident she has become.
Both girls now attend the MiSST Saturday Music School so pushing themselves musically as well as socially as they mix with other MiSST students.
MiSST continues to work in partnership with Highgate Hill.
700 students at Sedgehill are or have been part of the programme since the school joined in 2014.
Isaac has been playing the viola since he started at Sedgehill in September 2014. He has always been a MiSST enthusiast, taking part in the Barbican concert and Radley College residential during year 7 and year 8. Throughout year 8 and 9, Isaac has been an incredibly committed member of the Sedgehill Music Department attending ensemble rehearsals twice a week, performing in several concerts and events and even persuading his twin sister to get involved! As well as working hard at his music, Isaac is also an exceptionally polite, helpful and friendly student.
SMMA joined the MiSST programme in 2015 so the programme is now in its 3rd year and has reached over 500 students.
Ashana CAME TO SMMA in Year 7 having never learnt an instrument previously. She had an interest in drama and dance outside school, but this was the first instrument tuition that she had encountered. Ashana’s progress was evident within a couple of weeks. She was one of the pupils that surpassed what the beginners in the previous year group had achieved by the end of the year the end of her first term.
Ashana’s increasing knowledge of theory has encouraged her to start composing and every lunchtime she comes to music to write songs. The most recent of which was performed at our summer showcase.
Frederick Bremer joined MiSST in September 2014 and now over 700 students have benefitted from the programme. In the annual report Jenny Smith, the Headteacher said:
As we come to the end of Year 3 as a MiSST school, we are happy to report that we have successfully embedded our Music School at the heart of the school and that we are seeing a tangible impact on many areas of the school.
Our enhanced music provision has helped transform our school, and we are continuing to make rapid progress toward becoming outstanding. I am constantly impressed by the potential which is being released through this programme, and the impact this is having on our pupils – many of whom would not be getting these opportunities without this support.
One parent commented:
“We really applaud the school for its strong music provision, and indeed this was one of the main reasons it was our first-choice school”
…. and a student said, “My favourite day of the week is Wednesday because of the creativity focus and my violin lesson”.
September 2016 was the joining date for Holloway school. 140 Year 7’s will violins and violas made an immediate impact, as the vast majority of these young people had never owned an instrument before. Over the course of the year more than 100 students participated in additional musical opportunities
Joined Holloway School with low confidence, not believing he was good at anything and often got into trouble in lessons. He received intervention and was mentored by SLT at school. He had always enjoyed music lessons and tried hard, with his commitment to learning. He participated in the Radley Residential and had a fantastic time. He has since joined the orchestra and often comes to the Music dept. to practise and to rehearse with friends.
When I started at Highbury Grove, I was given the opportunity to learn the violin in the Music Specialist School. I remember being inspired by the School’s Scholars Orchestra and was accepted into it after achieving a Grade 2 Distinction. I have recently completed my Grade 5 on the violin. Being exposed to other enthusiastic musicians propelled my desire to seek more musical extracurricular activities. Hence, I joined MiSST’s Saturday School programme in Year 10.
Music has always played a huge role in my life, and the MiSST programme has helped push my abilities by providing opportunities to not only tour Europe and play in prestigious venues but to also pass on my musical knowledge unto others.
I used to play the guitar at primary school but because the teacher wasn’t very good I never really made any progress. Since coming to Arts & Media I have learned to play the Cello and because of the fantastic teachers I am now really confident and hope to take a Grade exam this year. I love playing music because it relaxes me and I think it has helped my concentration too. Performing at the Barbican was so exciting because I have never been to such a big posh place before. I had my photo taken in a green place because when I am older I want to save the planet and make it a better place for everyone. To do this I will need to go to college and that’s why music is so important, because it will help me achieve things in my life and take me to new places.
The MiSST Andrew Lloyd Webber programme was developed at Highbury Grove School, which became one of MiSST’s inaugural partner schools in 2013.
Lister joined MiSST as the next partner school in September 2013 and has the largest number of students currently on the MiSST programme.
Frederick Bremer joined the MiSST programme in 2014 and have already established a thriving specialist music school.
AMSI joined the MiSST Programme in 2014 after additional funding was received to roll out the MiSST programme further across the London Borough of Islington.
Mount Carmel joined the programme in 2014, and despite being our smallest partner school now has one of the largest orchestras of any of the schools we work with.
Sedgehill School also joined the MiSST programme in 2014 as part of our expansion.
Saint Mary Magdalene Academy joined the MiSST programme in 2015.
Holloway are out newest partner, having joined the MiSST Programme in September 2016!
At HG, over 1,000 students have learned to play a classical instrument, with music completely embedded in the life of the school. The number of students engaged in regular music activities totals over 500. Orchestras, ensembles, individual and paired lessons, choirs, bands and rock groups add to the diversity of the music curriculum, engaging large numbers of students beyond the formal music curriculum. Over 80 students now play at Grade 4 and above with almost 40 at a level equivalent to Grade 6.
Some highlights from 16 – 17 include:
Ivo started playing the flute when he joined Highbury Grove at the beginning of Year 7. In the space of two years he has been part of the National Orchestra for All, attended the MiSST Radley residential (in Year 7) and progressed to our second orchestra.
In July 2017 Ivo took his internal Grade 4 flute exam and passed with distinction and the incredible mark of 145/150.
All 1200 students at Lister have had the opportunity to learn how to play a classical music instrument in the last 5 years. 150 individual instrumental lessons now taking place on a weekly basis, representing 11% of the whole school cohort participating in additional instrumental lessons. 31% of the whole school cohort are engaging with additional Music provision on a weekly basis.
Rhys joined Lister School in September 2015 and is an unsung hero of the Music Department; he is totally committed to his clarinet lessons, Orchestra and Concert Band, as well as the school’s Saturday morning ‘Studio Sessions’. In addition, Rhys has been extremely active as an NYO Young Promoter, leading pre-concert presentations at the Barbican, Southbank Centre and the Royal Albert Hall.
Rhys is a humble young man who takes on all these challenges with quiet determination. With all these experiences, he has been a key part in many Lister events, happy to take on the responsibilities that come with these roles.
The aim of MiSST’s Pathways to Excellence is to provide progression routes with additional tuition, support and opportunities for young people on the ALW Programme who teachers identify as musically able. Programmes also support school musicians whose musical standard is above their peers.
Saturday Music School runs between 10.00 – 13.00 every Saturday during term time at Central Foundation Boys School in Old Street. The 2018 autumn term begins on September 15th and runs until November 24th with a half term break on the 20th and 27th October.
During the morning students will have sectionals, rehearsals and the opportunity to learn more about the music they play through listening and watching clips of other musicians.
Workshops with Nicola Benedetti, side by side with the Pico Players and planned masterclasses with the Chethams School of Music and the Alauda Quartet add to the breadth and depth of the provision.
During the break students socialise, play their instruments and eat bagels covered in jam!
For further details click here to contact the MiSST office to sign up
This programme offers 12 MiSST students the opportunity to gain and develop skills through a planned programme with the aims of:
The programme includes a 3 day Outward Bound Leadership Course in the Lake District.
Roles students undertake include:
Since joining MiSST in 2015, the music department at Frederick Bremer has provided opportunities to give performances and develop skills, with great progress being made by students undertaking MiSST assessments. As well as the Andrew Lloyd Webber programme, there are currently 98 students who are part of the specialist music school. The school provides an enhanced curriculum including one-to-one instrumental lessons, choir, small group theory and aural lessons, wind, brass and string ensembles and opportunities to perform each week to an audience. The improvement of these students over the months has been immense. Frederick Bremer School recently took part in Channel 4’s Educating the East End in which viewers witnessed first-hand the unconditional commitment of staff supporting young people to ensure they get the most they can from their education.
MiSST’s Key Stage 3 curriculum, known as the Andrew Lloyd Webber Programme, produces high-level, imaginative performers, composers and critical thinkers, preparing them for music GCSE, A-Level and beyond.
MiSST provides schools with the resources they will need for every Scheme of Work, encompassing absolute beginner to degree level students.
MiSST is committed to improving the quality of teaching, learning and leadership of music through high quality staff training, which increases knowledge, understanding and skills. Once the schools are confident in delivering the curriculum they are encouraged to write their own Schemes of Work.
3 music residencies have taken place in previous years and in July 2018 MiSST took further 240 students away over a 10-day period. 160 were aged 11 – 13 with 75% of those attending qualifying for free school meals. 80 students that attend Saturday School and are part of the MiSST orchestra also attended.
The residency aims to:
The impact of previous residencies demonstrated:
Truda was Head Teacher at Highbury Grove School, and the driving force behind the development of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Programme that MiSST operates today. Over 12 pioneering years of Truda’s leadership, the school was transformed, earning an Ofsted “Outstanding” rating. By 2012 the school was able to give every student a classical instrument upon admission as well as weekly tuition.
Truda has served as a school Head and Governor in primary and secondary schools for over 20 years. She is also a member of the National Advisory Board for the Outward Bound Trust.
Rachel will join MiSST full time in June 2018. Having worked for a number of years at Highbury Grove School and more recently The City of London Academy Highbury Grove, Rachel brings to MiSST considerable senior leadership experience. Rachel was the founding chair of the Highbury Grove School Foundation and raised significant sums of money to enhance the educational experience of the students. She has a BA and PGCE from Loughborough University and is currently undertaking an MSC at CASS Business School.
Stephanie has been a music teacher at the founding MiSST school since 2014. Stephanie plays the clarinet and piano and was educated at Chethams’ School of Music in Manchester. Following this Stephanie was awarded a scholarship to at the Royal College of Music where she studied with Tim Lines, Michael Collins and Richard Hosford. During her four years at the Royal College of Music Stephanie played in a number of masterclasses with world renowned clarinettists such as Maximiliano Martín; a variety of ensembles under the baton of prolific conductors such as Vladimir Ashkenazy; studied in for five months as part of the Erasmus programme and won the clarinet prize in her third year. Upon graduating Stephanie was elected student president for a year and worked closely with the Director of the College Colin Lawson and President of the College Professor Lord Robert Winston. After leaving the Royal College of Music Stephanie enrolled on the Teach First program and was placed in the founding MiSST school, Highbury Grove. Stephanie completed the Teach First masters in Educational Leadership with UCL and IOE and applied leadership theories studied to her previous role as Head of House at City of London Academy Highbury Grove. Stephanie is principal clarinet of the London City Orchestra.
Pirita joined the MiSST team in September 2017 having previously worked in managerial roles within the charity sector in healthcare advocacy and the arts. Pirita manages the MiSST office, and provides administrative support to all members of the team.
Robert has worked as a professional musician and educator for over 40 years, holding posts as Conductor, County Music Adviser and Associate Headteacher. He is an Honorary Fellow of Goldsmiths University of London and was made MBE in 2006. As well as working for MISST he is also Musical Director of the English Schools’ Orchestra and the English Young Artists’ Sinfonia. In addition, he is employed as Conductor and Adviser to Enfield Music Service and delivers courses to teachers and students for Teach First and Orchestras for All. In 2008 Robert visited Venezuela to study the highly acclaimed El Sistema programme.
Jonathan Gibson, Director of Saturday Music School
Kirsty Wilcockson, MiSST Consultant
Debbie Diamond, MiSST Consultant
Marta Goncalves, MiSST Consultant
Andrew Wolfson – Chairman and TrusteeAndrew is Managing Director of Pembroke VCT, responsible for executing the firm’s strategy, leading the investment team, deal origination and supporting portfolio companies.
Andrew has over 25 years of experience in entrepreneurial ventures across a variety of sectors including health, wellness, hospitality and consumer brands.
Madeleine Lloyd Webber is lead trustee on the board of The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, and the Director and Vice Chairman of Really Useful Group and Really Useful Theatres Ltd. Madeleine has over 20 years’ experience as a charitable trustee and is a passionate believer that giving young people a chance in artistic life and exposing them to professional arts training, instils and enhances a wide range of life skills.
Martin Bavinton – TrusteeMartin is a qualified solicitor who has worked at Oakley Capital as its General Counsel since 2009, specialising in corporate law, Funds and M&A. Prior to this he spent over eleven years in private practice at law firm Ashurst LLP in London and in Madrid, Spain. Martin advises a broad variety of companies and authorities on local and multinational matters.
Stephen has lived in East London for many years and held a significant number of positions including Chairman of NHS Tower Hamlets, Teach First, London First, NCH Leadership Board (now Action for Children) and the Board of Governors of the University of East London.
Stephen is actively involved in his community through membership of several Trusts, including the Immigrants Aid Trust and the Advisory Council for the Prince’s Trusts. His interests include classical music, carrying his wife’s harp, gardening, cooking and needlepoint.
Current roles include Chairman of Barts Health NHS Trust, President of Proshanti, Chair of International Health Partners, Unitas Communications and Deputy Chairman of Woods River Cruises and Water City Developments. Additionally, Stephen is a Trustee of the High Street Fund, Mayor’s Fund for London, Barts and The London Charity and The Sports and Health Partnership.
Stephen’s career has been in the financial sector. His posts include Chair of Charles Fulton Holdings, Director of Jessel Toynbee and Co, Non-Exec Director of the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum, and founding CEO of Business in the Community. He was Joint President, Chair, and founding CEO of London First.
Nicola BenedettiNicola began learning to play the violin at the age of four. At eight, she became the leader of the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain and by the age of nine had passed Grade 8. In September 1997 she began to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School for young musicians under Lord Menuhin and Natasha Boyarskaya.
In May 2004, aged 16, Nicola won the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition. Since then Nicola has been awarded honorary doctorates from Glasgow Caledonian University and Heriot-Watt University as well as an honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh.
Nicola was presented with the Queen’s Medal for Music, the youngest of the twelve people to receive the award since it was established in 2005.
Nicola plays the Gariel Stradivarius (1717), courtesy of Jonathan Moulds and practices between three and seven and a half hours a day.
Alongside Nicola’s performance career, she is passionate about music education and gives a significant amount of time to this through her work with MiSST and other music organisations.
Nicola’s motto is “Enhance your own ability, be the best you can be – but don’t keep that for yourself. Share it, expose it, give it and try to enrich other people with what you have managed to achieve.”
The Foundation believes that in order to maintain vibrancy in the arts, it is critical that the new generation of potential artists are nurtured and encouraged. Recognising that these are difficult economic times to get a start in artistic life, the Trustees are prioritising projects that enable people to develop their abilities and careers.
The Brewers’ Company is one of the oldest Livery Companies in the City of London and ranks fourteenth in order of precedence.
Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust financed MiSST’s pilot project at Highbury Grove School, and continues to support the development of MiSST. A common theme running through each of the Trust’s funding programmes is an emphasis on supporting and promoting excellence.
Normans are a specialist supplier of Musical Instruments and accessories with over 50 years’ experience servicing the education sector. We work closely with Music Educators throughout the country and pride ourselves on great customer service and the ability to offer schools and parents a one stop solution to all of their purchasing needs.
EPM provides personnel services, consultancy and training to a large number of Primary, Secondary, Academies, Special, Foundation, Aided and Community schools. We have a team of well qualified and experienced personnel and payroll advisers and supporting administrative staff.
Orchestras for All believe that no young person should be excluded from the benefits of making music. We bring together young musicians of a wide range of abilities within one ensemble. This teaches leadership skills to more advanced players, and gives peer role models for the youngest.
City of London Academy Trust – Highbury Grove and Highgate Hill
United Learning – Sedgehill
Normans Instruments
Education Personnel Managment
The PiCO Players
Outward Bound Trust
Orchestra for All
Leonora Saunders, Portrait Photographer
I started playing violin when I was 9 years old and joined the beginner string group at the Waltham Forest Music Service. It was only when I arrived at Frederick Bremer that I was able to get an individual lesson. I am now preparing to take my Grade 3 exam and am involved in the Waltham Forest Intermediate Strings group, school orchestra and advanced string ensemble. I was also lead violinist for one of the ensembles performing alongside Nicola Benedetti at the Barbican concert last year. I have been a part of the Music Specialist School since last year where I take part in the ensembles, choir and I have recently started to learn the flute. I love music, I like practicing and performing with friends. Playing music allows me to express myself, I get quite stressed and it allows me the opportunity to forget about everything.
I went to a lot of different primary schools when I was younger as we kept moving a lot. During this time I tried out lots of things like tap and ballet but I wasn’t very good. In the last primary school I went to I really wanted to learn the trumpet. My mum signed me up and I really enjoyed playing this instrument and got to grade 2 at the end of Year 6. When I started secondary school, I was able to continue playing the trumpet in cadets which allowed me to play another instrument in school. I chose to play the flute because it was interesting for me because I never thought that I would be able to play the flute as it looks really hard. Music allows me to express myself and this is important to me as I want to be a graphic designer in the future. I want to be like the Japanese guy that created Sonic The Hedgehog.
I used to play a bit of piano at primary but I was not overly keen. However, since I have started the viola at Saint Mary Magdalene I have really enjoyed it! It’s amazing how far I have come and we have only been doing it for about a term. I have always liked the subject music and singing especially! I guess I have just always been confident. Thanks to my school and MiSST I have found myself a new passion. I chose to have my picture taken in my bedroom as that is where I practice my viola so I spend a lot of time in it!
I came to England from Moldova in September 2014. I never considered playing an instrument but now I have learnt two in the space of a year. I enjoy playing an instrument because I couldn’t speak English very well and music is a universal language and I was able to participate with everybody else.
Music means that I can learn how to do specific skills that I can use in my daily life. For example; learning how to play with different people means that I learn how to communicate, which I can use in daily life. Music also means that I get to see a lot of different cultures that I have never seen before. In short, I get to learn more about the world.
When I came to Highbury Grove School I started to learn the cello, through the Music Specialist School Programme from Year 7. A year later, I also started to learn the flute and pursue it as my main instrument. Learning the flute has been a very enjoyable and rewarding experience as just after picking it at 12 years old, I managed to gain an ABRSM Grade 8 Distinction at 15 years old. Orchestral music is my main interest in classical music, which has already pushed me to gain a seat in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for 2016, which will be a valuable asset to my career in music. I have been awarded a place to study at the Royal College of Music. I want to be a professional orchestral musician in the future and gaining a place in a top conservatoire will be very beneficial for me in pursuing this.