Music

Cornwall Hill College has an active and progressive Music Academy, which provides a variety of activities in which the students can participate. These activities include Senior Orchestra, Junior Orchestra, Jazz Quartet, Saxophone quartet, Beginner Clarinet and Saxophone ensembles, String Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Marimba bands and Flute ensembles.

The Music Academy also offers individual instrumental tuition by highly qualified and experienced teachers. Instruments include Piano, Keyboard, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Flute, Recorder, Clarinet, Saxophone, Guitar (Acoustic, Electric and Bass), Drums, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, French Horn, Voice and Music Production.

Ample performance opportunities allow the pupils to perform regularly at several events, venues, eisteddfods, and competitions. For example Brooklyn Theatre Limelight Concerts, Chamber Concerts, annual SASMT Ensemble Competition, various Eisteddfods, external examinations such as TCL, ABRSM and Rockschool, Simfonia Juventi Youth Orchestra and the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra. All instrumental students are encouraged to participate in one or more of the group music activities and music theory classes.

The Cornwall Hill Music Academy is one of the largest and liveliest academies in Gauteng. It boasts a large array of orchestras, bands and ensembles and more than 26 specialist music teachers and staff. The Music Academy provides a unique and excellent standard in instrumental and vocal tuition. Many of our staff also teach at tertiary institutions in Gauteng and are all committed professional musicians who are active performers across the country and abroad.

At Cornwall Hill College, every pupil is encouraged to take part in music, either by playing an instrument, joining one of our many ensembles, by singing in a choir, or all of the above! There is a strong focus on performance with at least one-fourth of the school actively involved in music performance. Alongside individual lessons, opportunities for pupils to take part in music at our School are vast, with many concerts and events throughout the year. These events include the annual Winter Classics Music Concert, the Matric Dance, the termly Chamber Concerts and the annual Orchestra Festival.

Instruments taught at the Academy include piano, keyboard, violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, trumpet, trombone, french horn, euphonium, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, drum kit, timpani, flute, recorder and clarinet. Vocal training is also offered.

The Theory of Music is delivered through dedicated group theory sessions, that allow interaction and involvement by all children by experienced and talented teachers

In addition to performing at our School and numerous Eisteddfods across the province, our young musicians have also performed at venues such as the Linder Auditorium, Pretoria State Theatre and the Brooklyn Theatre.

Orchestras and Ensembles

Playing in an orchestra or ensemble is a vital part of the development of any young instrumentalist and at the Music Academy, our philosophy is that all pupils should have the opportunity to experience and learn from this.

The Music Academy currently boasts two award-winning orchestras consisting of over 100 pupils. Other ensembles include Flute ensemble, Recorder ensembles, String Ensemble, Jazz band, Saxophone quartet, Jazz quartet, Brass ensemble, Rock band, Guitar ensembles and Marimba bands.

Eisteddfods, Competitions and External Exams

All pupils are encouraged to participate in eisteddfods, competitions, and other external exams. These opportunities include the Pretoria Eisteddfod, AKV Eisteddfod, Artisticulta Eisteddfod, Roedean Music Competition, Philip H Moore Music Competition, Il Vento National Competition and the National SASMT Ensemble Competition.

Facilities

The Music Academy is made up of 14 practice rooms, a music library, a large rehearsal and recital space, and four classrooms, with 25 PC workstations.

The Music Academy owns a large stock of instruments which can be hired to pupils in the early stages of their instrumental development.

Musical independence

There are many excellent rock bands formed by pupils and many of these are showcased at School events. All the technical setup, sound checking and performance are done by the pupils.

What do our musicians do after they leave our School?

While several of the Music Academies music students regularly go on to study music at top universities and conservatories, some follow other career paths. However, all musicians agree, that music lessons and the ability to play an instrument remains one of the greatest joys in life!