RGS music students excel in exams

TWENTY talented Ripon Grammar School musicians are celebrating passing their national music exams.

They include two students, Tassy Bell and Jamie Tabor, who achieved the top-level grade 8.

Those celebrating, who are all involved in the school’s wide variety of orchestras, choirs and musical ensembles, passed their Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music exams in a range of instruments at all levels from grade 1 to grade 8.

They include piano, trombone, violin, flute, saxophone and horn, in addition to singing.

A proud RGS director of music Michael Barker said: “This is a superb achievement and very well-deserved results which show the high level of musicianship and commitment to music these students have. We look forward to their further successes."

Tassy Bell, who achieved her grade 8 in singing, already has a grade 5 in piano under her belt: “I've briefly picked up a range of instruments within school, including guitar with guitar ensemble and trumpet as part of my bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.

“But I've been singing in choirs for as long as I can remember and started singing lessons seven years ago. I never wanted to be a big pop singer particularly, but I always loved musical theatre and romantic music and so wanted to learn how to perform those pieces in the best way possible.”

In addition to singing with the school’s chamber and senior girls’ choirs, she is a member of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain: “This has been a fantastic opportunity to perform in exciting venues such as Coventry Cathedral, as well as performing complex and brand-new choral music.”

The 18-year-old, from Thirsk, hopes to study theology at Cambridge and enjoys music as a hobby: “But I would love to run my own community choir.

Jamie Tabor, from Ripon, achieved a merit in his grade 8 piano exam and will soon take his grade 8 in singing, followed by his diploma.

“My parents are both grade 8 musicians in multiple instruments, so I suppose the inspiration was all around as I was growing up.”

In addition to singing in the school’s man and chamber choirs, the 18-year-old accompanies the musicality choir on piano and plays in the wind and chamber orchestra.

But his biggest role was when he starred in the school’s musical production of Sweeney Todd: “It was incredibly enjoyable but an absolutely monumental task to pull off in three months,” he says.

He plans to study chemistry the University of Edinburgh and adds: “I hope to keep playing piano and singing wherever I go, by joining choirs and playing piano for myself in my spare time - if there is any!”

Xander Galloway-Gee, 13, from Ripon, achieved grade 5 in piano, which he has been playing since the age of four.

“I was inspired by seeing the amazing Scott Brothers playing the organ and piano at Ripon Cathedral. They really encouraged me.”

Also taking saxophone lessons at school, where he sings with the man choir, the Ripon Cathedral head chorister is also preparing for his grade 8 exam in singing and recently won his singing and piano section at the Ripon Young Musicians of the Year competition.

Xander, who has ambitions to become a pilot, loves performing, including at recent concerts in Ripon Arts Hub and at the cathedral, he has also been asked to sing at a Rotary Club concert in Ripon in March.

“I am excited about learning the saxophone and hope I can join a school ensemble.”

Elodie Rennie-Oxley achieved grade 2 in flute, which she has been playing for two years.

“I got started because I thought I was up for more of a challenge than the recorder, where I also reached grade 2, and fancied playing a different instrument.”

The 11-year-old, from Ripon, who also plays guitar, enjoys singing in the Ripon Cathedral choir and the musicality choir in school, in addition to playing in the RGS wind band.

“My ambitions for my music are to play all the way up to the higher grades such as 7 and 8.”

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