Music

Music is an essential, much-loved part of Oakham School life. Our vibrant Music Department has a national reputation for excellence and we are particularly proud of our choral and instrumental tradition. Our Chamber Choir became MACC Youth Choir Champions 2011 and were finalists in the 2016 Barnado’s School Choir Competition and runners up in the 2012 and 2016 BBC Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year Competition.

We nurture the ability of any pupil interested in Music with around half the School taking part in musical ensembles – choirs, bands, orchestras – and musical theatre in collaboration with the Drama Department. Well over 500 individual music lessons and rehearsals for 20 different ensembles take place each week and ABRSM music exams, for which there is an exceptionally high success rate, are held each term. Our pupils regularly participate in national youth music organisations and many go on to study Music beyond Oakham at prestigious music colleges and universities.

Public performance is fundamental to Music at Oakham. It builds vital personal confidence and provides goals to work towards. Our pupils take part in over 80 concerts each year in Rutland and prestigious venues around the UK. Our annual English Song Competition and Piano Duet Competition, adjudicated by professional musicians, are eagerly anticipated events in the school calendar. We produce recordings, tour abroad biennially and participate in major national competitions.

We aim to give our pupils as many opportunities as possible to hear live music and achieve this by hosting professional concerts and arranging concert trips to hear leading orchestras.

Talented musicians can audition for music scholarships and exhibitions at 11+, 13+, and 16+ entrance levels.