Music

Milton Abbey’s musical tradition is inspired by our beautiful, medieval abbey church, where choirs have sung and musical ensembles have enjoyed the acoustics for hundreds of years. We currently run two main choirs: the Abbey Choir and the smaller Canticum Choir.

All music is encouraged and applauded, and there are two concerts a term plus a bigger end-of-term concert in which students can play or sing. Jazz and rock bands regularly feature on programmes, sometimes performing work which they have developed themselves in our music technology studio. There is also a variety of informal chamber groups, some of which come together ad hoc for concert performances.

Over a quarter of students learn a musical instrument. We have specialist teachers for all instruments, including voice, assisted by experts from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Pupils are regularly entered for Associated Board grades.

Once a year house music and house singing competitions are fiercely contested.

Music as an academic subject features in the Year 9 curriculum, after which boys can choose to study it to GCSE and boys and girls can take it at AS and A Level; in addition we offer music technology as an A Level, and this has proved a popular option.