The COVID-19 pandemic is something that we will all remember, for sure. While the disruption was felt by all industries and sectors it perhaps wouldn't be foolish to say that the arts in particular suffered a great deal. After all, music needs an audience otherwise what's the point?

Our year 10 GCSE students were set to perform for their GCSE Music Showcase (click HERE for more information on the annual showcase) in January. There would have been no audience but everything else would have been present - lights, a set-list, a stage, microphones (lots of them!), instruments and of course, nerves. The performance was due to be filmed in our drama studio and then the footage uploaded for parents. However, schools then shut nationwide in January and February. The annual showcase is not just an event; students are performing their actual GCSE coursework repertoire. The evening is an opportunity for them to do this under pressure and get used to performing to an audience prior to the much larger scale summer concert (click HERE for information on the summer concert).

Thankfully at Wrotham School, our year 10 GCSE music students continued to practice in preparation for a performance that instead would be filmed from home. This took a great deal of planning and importantly required all of the class to be motivated and enthusiastic about practising and eventually performing the pieces they had worked on for months, but from home away from the equipment they relied on at school and having to film themselves. I'm hopeful you will be proud of what the students have achieved, and this performance has served as a blueprint for other ways that we might be able to stage performances while social distancing measures are still in place.

Enjoy!