Music
St Mary’s School has a very active extra-curricular music programme with a wide variety of instruments taught by a group of dedicated and professional musicians. Apart from piano and contemporary keyboard, girls can learn violin, cello, flute, clarinet, recorder, saxophone, kit drums, guitar and bass guitar and, if other instruments are requested, teachers can be sourced. The Department subscribes to the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and enters girls in the May and October examination sessions. In 2009, the first jazz students were entered and they achieved very credible marks. Girls are encouraged to perform to their potential. Programmes are structured to suit the individual so entry into examinations and eisteddfods is carefully considered taking into account personality and ability. The Music Department provides a nurturing and caring environment in which the girls can enjoy music and flourish.
Choir
St Mary’s resounds with the lovely sounds of the Senior School Choir which consists of girls from all Forms in the School. The Choir rehearses each Monday afternoon and provides the music at many School events. No Eucharist, Patronal Festival or Old Girls’ Day would be celebrated quite as successfully without the strong and confident sounds of the Choir. The girls sing at both happy and sad occasions and they provided a soothing backdrop to the memorial service held for ex-Headmistress Dodo Pitt. The annual Choir Camp is a bonding experience for the girls and the Talent Contest held at the Camp produces wonderful performances and quite a few surprises. Our choristers form strong friendships which last long after the last song is sung at school.Contemporary Music
Contemporary music is alive and kicking at St Mary’s. The School boasts three rock bands, a R&B band, a jazz trio, a jazz band, a wind band as well as two keyboard ensembles. The girls relate readily to this genre of music and enjoy performing it. It provides the girls the opportunity to express their creativity through song-writing, improvisation and performance. Tuition in contemporary music is offered in piano, voice, drums, keyboard, saxophone, electrical and acoustic guitar and bass guitar. The Jazz syllabus of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music as well as the Rock School (Trinity) syllabus are offered at the School. St Mary’s is also the examination centre for the ABRSM Jazz examinations. The bands and ensembles perform regularly at School and external functions, competitions and festivals. Original music is encouraged and musicians are provided with the opportunity to record their work at an outside studio.Ensembles
St Mary’s Music Department runs a dynamic ensembles programme. Girls playing instruments are encouraged to play in groups to develop their sight-reading skills and ensemble techniques. We boast a Wind Band and a String Ensemble in the Senior School which combine as the St Mary’s Orchestra when required to play as a larger group. The ensembles play at important School events such as the Patronal Festival and the annual Make a Note of It alfresco concert in June. Fun days such as Paint the Town Red resound with the music of the ensembles. The Senior Jazz Band is becoming renowned for its wonderful performances and recently played at the IEB Conference in Boksburg.