Music

Miles Davis famously said that "Good music is good no matter what kind of music it is." It is this attitude that we take as a department, to encourage and facilitate students in their pursuit of musical achievement.

The lively department consists of four members of music teaching staff, a part-time music secretary, a part-time head of strings and thirty-one visiting music staff covering all orchestral instruments as well as four singing teachers and teachers in both acoustic and electric guitars.

Music is a big part of life at Caterham School and we are pleased to outline our approach and musical 'ethos':

• We offer a great variety of opportunities for musicians, of any standard
• We embrace all styles of music
• We believe that music making should extend well beyond graded exams
• We provide 'out of school' opportunities for our musicians

Our weekly schedule of musical activities:

	Before School	Lunchtime	After School
Monday		Vocalpoint Spirit Fingers Voicebreakers	Just Voices Eric Thiman Singers
Tuesday		Quartz Vivaldi Strings Take your Pick
Wednesday	Eric Thiman Singers	Sinfonia
Thursday	Eric Thiman Singers	Touch of Brass
Friday		Whirlwind Keynote

Music department facilities
We are pleased to offer a range of workspaces and facilities that include:

• A classroom with full set of African djembe drums
• A keyboard lab
• A recording studio
• Music practice rooms
• A dedicated choir rehearsal room
• A dedicated band room
• A choice of 2 concert venues including a purpose-built theatre

Biographies

Stuart Thompson GRSM (Hons) LRAM ARAM- Director of Music.
Stuart's musical career began as a chorister at Winchester Cathedral. A secondary education at Stowe School as a music scholar led to his acceptance at the Royal Academy of Music, studying organ, piano and composition. During his years at the R.A.M., his compositions and arrangements appeared on television and radio including "Songs of Praise" and a special act of worship for radio 4 called "In praise of God" as part of the Church Music course. He was Alec Robertson scholar at Westminster Cathedral and then appointed as Director of Music for Leeds Cathedral, a post he held for eight years including the formation of the first girls' choir in a Catholic Cathedral. At Caterham, Stuart has also been responsible for numerous musical theatre productions including ''Les Miserables'', "Little shop of horrors", "Sweeney Todd", "Closer than ever", "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Jekyll & Hyde" and in December this year "Fame".

Adam Assen BMus- Assistant Director of Music
Adam enjoyed a diverse musical upbringing learning the piano from a young age whilst being a regular performer of Mauritian folk music on percussion and drums. He went on to study music at University of Surrey and later undertook postgraduate studies in Choral Education at the University of Roehampton. He is an experienced conductor and has toured most of Europe with choirs performing in some of the most prestigious venues. He has also worked extensively with the Prague conservatoire orchestra. He conducts a local choral society 'The Downland Chorale' in Old Coulsdon. As a composer, Adam has written a wealth of material for schools including commissioned musicals such as 'Perseus and Medusa'. University of Hertfordshire has commended his compositions specifically written for children with autism. Adam joined Caterham School after working in travel, arranging concert tours for young performers.

Alice Martin BA (Hons) MMus- Head of Wind & Brass
Alice began her musical career playing the piano and clarinet from the age of nine, later also taking up tenor saxophone and bassoon. During her school years she performed in county ensembles as principal clarinettist and developed her passion for small ensemble and contemporary music. She also gained four Grade 8 certificates for clarinet, piano, jazz tenor saxophone and music theory. In 2008 she graduated from the University of Durham with a BA (Hons) degree having written a dissertation on Minimalism. While at Durham she performed in many show bands, orchestral concerts and contemporary music ensembles, including a UK premiere of Kagel's Staatstheatre. She went on to study for a Masters in theory and analysis at Royal Holloway College, University of London, with a dissertation entitled 'Analytical Approaches to Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring'. She obtained her PGCE from the Institute of Education, University of London, in 2010 and began her first teaching position at Caterham School.

Helena Richards BMus (Hons)
Helena began playing the piano and 'cello at the age of five, followed closely by the harp a couple of years later. She joined the Junior Academy of Music in 1992, where she quickly developed a keen interest in composition. As a music scholar at Guildford High School from 1993-'98, she was a member of The National Children's Orchestra as well as the National Children's Chamber Orchestra. She gained a place at the prestigious Chetham's School of Music in 1998 where she frequently performed with ensembles and orchestras, as well as having many of her compositions played at school, and for the general public. Winner of the Composers' Prize in her final year, she went on to study composition at The Royal College of Music with William Mival, graduating in 2004 with a BMus honours degree. Having completed her PGCE, she began her first teaching post at Caterham as Assistant Director of Music.

Catherine Aldren GRAM(Hons), LRAM, ALCM - Head of Strings
Born in Leeds and was the only violinist in her school, gaining a place at The Royal Academy of Music where she was awarded a performing degree and two diplomas. After completing a PGCE she began her teaching career with Croydon Music Service. She then moved to Wales and taught for 2 years in the Welsh valleys where she also began conducting. She came to Caterham School 8 years ago as Head of Strings to lead and grow the string department. Catherine also teaches at The Hayes Primary School, Woldingham School and privately. She plays in various orchestras and chamber groups with tours to Prague and China. Hobbies include running, trekking and scuba diving.