Music Marathon Raises Funds for School

It's not often that we get to put on a musical event that really goes against convention, but the evening of Friday 11 October proved to be a fundraising concert with a difference! KES Parents and KES Music teamed up to raise money for musical activities across all three KES Schools with the important additional aim of providing an informal performance platform for less experienced KES musicians. Music Marathons are not revolutionary in themselves and usually take the form of 24 hours of live musical performing, but who wants to play or be in the audience at 3 in the morning?

KES had other plans! To put on 100 one-minute performances in the shortest time possible in a live concert in the Wroughton Theatre. Playing or singing for just one minute seems a lot less daunting than being part of a conventional concert performing a whole piece, and so it was that the whole KES community rallied to the cause as both pupils and staff (academic and musical) all signed up to 'do their bit!

With solos from every conceivable style from Mozart to Muse, Schumann to Slipknot, performers came on to a stage bedecked in pianos, drumkits, amps and microphones in groups of five at a time to perform as seamlessly as possible, as the near capacity audience warmly cheered each set of musicians with enthusiasm and energy.

Mrs Lineko of the KES Parents committee coordinated the fundraising events in the interval which saw a fab raffle to win such amazing prizes such as tickets to Wimbledon.

With beautiful and professional accompaniment by Mrs Donovan, Mrs Cannon Mr Howcroft and of course, Mr Hutchings; slick on-stage and back-stage logistics from KES Music staff; fun count down style clocks and atmospheric lighting provided by the theatre technicians James Sellick and Rebecca Walker; subtle (glockenspiel) and less subtle (tam-tam) auditory reminders that each minute had been reached by Mr Feeney, the evening came to a tumultuous climax when, due to two pupil illnesses, it looked like we wouldn't reach the magical 100 performances!

The day was saved at the last minute by the Headmaster, who stepped on stage to accompany his own singing voice on the guitar, and the audience themselves! The room joined together in true community spirit to sing Hey Jude by the Beatles with the first verse lead by brave parent, Mr Daniels!

The real triumph was the number, musicianship and variety of pupils from Year 4-13 who all played or sang for their special minute, whether that be as a first-time performer or as an experienced KES musician.

Our thanks to all those who generously provided raffle prizes, including:
Team Bath Tennis, 2 x Wimbledon tickets and a month’s worth of group coaching lessons
Spirit Photography, Photo experience worth £330
Abbey Hotel, A three-course meal for two with bottle of wine
Spin Village, A five-class gift card
The Ivy Brasserie, £50 gift card
Cote Brasserie, £30 gift card
Urban Outfitters, 2 x £50 gift card
Eugene Nikolaiev, Luxury Coffee Set worth £60
Toni & Guy, 20% off any salon service
Lloyds TSB 2 x VUE Cinema vouchers
The Health & Beauty Centre, 45 minute aromatherapy session
Kiehl’s, Pamper session
Fine and Dandy Barbers, Free hair cut
Shuttercraft Somerset, £50 Amazon voucher

Rupert Drury, Director of Music at KES