Performing Arts

What an exciting start to the Music programme in 2026. It’s been another busy half term, with music filling the winter skies before, during, and after the school day. Kicking off with two whole days of Music Scholarship auditions, this was followed by three major performance events in just three weeks.

Our Music Scholars took the lead with the winter-edition Scholars’ Concert, an evening which showcased their incredible talent. We were lucky enough to hear a whole range of different genres and instruments, from the French horn to the cello, as well as singing performances from two of our Sixth Form singers, who have been awarded choral scholarships at Oxford.

We also saw a new initiative this term: a week dedicated to live performances around the school, including in Chapel, to mark the birthday of Mozart and share the impact of his music over the last 200 years. Our resident composer, Ed Driver, and pupils across the school thoroughly enjoyed his Big Band samba based on Symphony No. 40, alongside opera arias, string quartets, and a whole-orchestra performance of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Over 80 of our musicians participated throughout the week, filling the school with a positive atmosphere and providing a fantastic showcase of musical creativity.

This half term, the Farrow Song Competition — a decades-old Mill Hill tradition and a key event in the performing arts calendar — also took place. Featuring seventy-two performances and fifty-three singers over two days, the competition gave pupils the opportunity to perform a solo in front of their peers and receive personalised feedback from professional singers adjudicating each category. There was a great range of performances, from pop to jazz to musical theatre. The standard across the competition was impressive, with some pupils even performing songs they had composed themselves. After considerable thought, the judges decided on 12 singers to go through to the finals, which will be judged by international opera star Claire Booth. We look forward to hearing the results.

Looking forward to next term there is much to look forward to including the Instrumental Competition, an exciting performance from Belmont and Mill Hill Musicians of Fauré’s Requiem and a Jazz evening set at International Jazz Venue, Pizza Express Live!