ST JOHN S SCHOOL LEATHERHEAD ARTS AND EVENTS AUTUMN TERM 2017 stjohnsleatherhead.co.uk
ARTS AND EVENTS AT ST JOHN S St John s School is once again proud to present a calendar of exciting dramatic and musical events for the Autumn term. St John s looks forward to hosting theatrical productions, concerts, exhibitions and Chapel services, many of which are open to the public. We warmly invite you to experience the talent and variety that St John s has to offer. Further information, booking details, and extra events added may be found on our website: www.stjohnsleatherhead.co.uk/ events.aspx or social media. ARTS AND EVENTS 2017 1
EXHIBITION HERITAGE OPEN DAY Saturday 9 September 10.00am 4.00pm Venue: Old Chapel St John s will open its doors once again to the public as part of the national Heritage Open Day scheme. This year we are delighted to host an exhibition of rarely seen paintings, drawings and prints of the School spanning 160 years. Featured artists include Edward John Burrow, Mick Ewin, Dennis Flanders, Geoffrey Fletcher, Bryan de Grineau, J R Hutchinson, Brenda Johnston and Maurice Sheppard. The history of the School will also be on display in the Old Chapel. Peer into history with a guided tour. Founded in 1851 by Ashby Haslewood, Vicar of St Mark s in St John s Wood, North London, St John s offered free education for sons of poor clergy. The School became established in Leatherhead 1872 leaving a legacy of elegant architecture of historical significance. School tours will take place at 11.00am and 2.00pm. - Free - All welcome (no booking is required) 2 ST JOHN S SCHOOL LEATHERHEAD
MUSIC JAMES O DONNELL CELEBRITY ORGAN RECITAL Friday 15 September 7.00pm Venue: Chapel St John s is delighted to welcome the internationally renowned organist James O Donnell to give the first of this season s celebrity organ recitals on the new Hickson Organ, designed and built by Kenneth Tickell. The organ has received praise from all quarters for its sensitivity and brilliance in the building. James O Donnell is Organist and Master of the Choristers of Westminster Abbey. Internationally recognised as a conductor and organ recitalist, he has given concerts all over the world, including the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and throughout Europe, and appeared as organ soloist in the BBC Proms and at many other festivals. He is Visiting Professor of Organ and of Choral Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music, and in November 2010 he was Artist in Residence at Yale University. He was awarded the papal honour of Knight Commander of the Order of St Gregory in 1999. He received Honorary Membership of the Royal Academy of Music in 2002, and a Fellowship of the Royal College of Music in 2009. He was elected an Honorary Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge in 2011 and received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from the University of Aberdeen in July 2013. This will be one of the musical highlights of the year. Do come and support such highcalibre music making at St John s! - Tickets 15 ( 12 Concessions) - Refreshments - All welcome (booking required) ARTS AND EVENTS 2017 3
MUSIC CONCERTO COMPETITION Thursday 21 September 7.00pm Venue: Old Chapel Following its successful 2016 inauguration, the Concerto Competition is the first of three annual competitions to take place at St John s providing pupils with the chance to display technical ability and performance flair in front of a professional orchestra and an appreciative audience. Each entrant must learn one movement from a larger work for their chosen instrument and competitors will compete for the highly prized concerto cup trophy. Instruments featured include the bassoon, piano, violin and flute in an evening of dazzling virtuosity. - Free - Refreshments - All welcome (booking required) 4 ST JOHN S SCHOOL LEATHERHEAD
MUSIC NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN FUNDRAISING RECITAL Thursday 28 September 7.00pm Venue: Old Chapel St John s is delighted to welcome the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for a concert to raise greatly-needed funds for this most electric of ensembles. The National Youth Orchestra exists to provide breakthrough experiences to teenage orchestral musicians. The NYO has launched NYO Inspire, providing dedicated young musicians who lack opportunities to advance. The evening will offer the audience the chance to witness exceptional musicians. As our very own Alex Semple, Violin 2 string leader of the NYO, says: Classical music can show us all a lot about ourselves and each other... it has a profound connection to us all. The NYO relies almost entirely on donor support to fund the annual 1.5 million needed to fund the Orchestras endeavours. All funds raised will be used to preserve, maintain and grow this wonderful musical institution. - Retiring collection - Refreshments - All welcome (booking required) ARTS AND EVENTS 2017 5
SPORT A CELEBRATION OF ST JOHN S SPORT Saturday 30 September 7.00pm Venue: Dining Hall St John s has proved its sporting prowess in 2017. Our teams and individual athletes have prevailed against competitors from the top sporting schools. We are raising funds to continue to promote and develop sporting excellence in the school. We would be delighted to welcome you to an evening celebrating sport at St John s with acclaimed sporting personalities as special guests. Your ticket price includes a welcome drink and three-course dinner, followed by a Q&A session, an auction and dancing. - Tickets 60 - All welcome (booking required) - Dress code: black tie 6 ST JOHN S SCHOOL LEATHERHEAD
EXHIBITION LEATHERHEAD ART CLUB AUTUMN EXHIBITION Saturday 21 October to Sunday 29 October 10.00am 4.00pm Venue: Old Chapel Leatherhead Art Club will again be holding its Autumn exhibition in the Old Chapel at St John s in association with the annual Mole Valley Arts Alive programme. The exhibition will feature paintings from members of the club in range of styles and mediums, both traditional and contemporary. All paintings and greetings cards will be for sale and admission is free. Private viewings with refreshments, Friday 20th October: 4.00pm 6.00pm for St John s staff, pupils and parents; 6.00pm 8.00pm for Leatherhead Art Club invitees. - Free - All welcome (no booking required) ARTS AND EVENTS 2017 7
MUSIC TENEBRAE CONCERT Friday 10 November 7.00pm Venue: Chapel Described as phenomenal (The Times) and devastatingly beautiful (Gramophone Magazine), award-winning choir Tenebrae, under the direction of Nigel Short, are back! One of the world s leading vocal ensembles, Tenebrae is renowned for passion and precision. In 2013 the choir s recording of Fauré s Requiem with the London Symphony Orchestra was nominated for the Gramophone Awards, having been described as the very best Fauré Requiem on disc. Tenebrae s everincreasing discography has brought about collaborations with Signum, Decca Classics, Deutsche Grammophon, EMI Classics, LSO Live and Warner Classics. Ahead of the concert on Friday, Tenebrae will undertake a residency and intensive rehearsals with our young singers. The concert will include a piece performed by Tenebrae and the Chapel Choir. This promises to be one of the greatest ever musical events at St John s! - Tickets 15 ( 12 Concessions) - Refreshments - All welcome (booking required) 8 ST JOHN S SCHOOL LEATHERHEAD
MUSIC LEATHERHEAD CHORAL SOCIETY CONCERT Saturday 18 November 7.30pm 9.30pm Venue: Old Chapel Leatherhead Choral Society presents Northern Lights, an evening of soul warming music from the chilly Baltic. Originating from the Baltic Sea countries including Scandinavia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania- the concert will fuse elements of the national traditions with a unique modern style. Leatherhead Choral Society will perform in the charming surroundings of St John s Old Chapel joined by soprano Rachel Ambrose Evans. It will be a stunning evening of music not to be missed! - Tickets 14 (Free for Under 16s) - Refreshments available - All welcome (booking required via LCS website: www.leatherhead-choral.net/ default.htm) ARTS AND EVENTS 2017 9
MUSIC TRACY KENNINGTON PIANO RECITAL Wednesday 22 November 7.00pm Venue: Old Chapel Our beloved piano teacher Tracy Kennington will give a recital of piano works in the Old Chapel. Tracy has lived and worked in Surrey and London for over 25 years and has built a reputation as an experienced performer and notable accompanist working with chamber and vocal ensembles. Tracy leads the keyboard department at St John s who have enjoyed many successes under her leadership. A supremely articulate advocate of the piano, she continues to inspire new generations of young people to engage with and excel at the instrument. In this concert, Tracy will present a diverse programme providing something for all! - Free - Refreshments - All welcome (booking required) 10 ST JOHN S SCHOOL LEATHERHEAD
MUSIC HAYDN THE CREATION BY CANDLELIGHT Sunday 26 November 7.00pm Venue: Old Chapel Hundreds of candles will transform the Old Chapel for an atmospheric performance of The Creation, Haydn s evergreen and beloved large-scale choral work. Inspired by his encounter with Handel s oratorios, most notably through hearing the Messiah in Westminster Abbey, that Haydn decided he must replicate such musical grandeur. His oratorio enjoys acclaim as one of the loveliest and most enjoyed of all the major oratorios. An anonymous English libretto on the creation of the world, citing Genesis and Milton s Paradise Lost, provided the foundation for the composer s musical efforts. Three of the country s finest young singers will complement the choral society as soloists, accompanied by Mole Valley Baroque. Anna Cavaliero performs as Gabriel, Ruairi Bowen as Uriel and Michael Craddock as Raphael. - Tickets 10 ( 8 Concessions) - Refreshments - All welcome (booking required) ARTS AND EVENTS 2017 11
MUSIC MICHAELMAS CONCERT Friday 1 December 7.30pm Venue: Chapel followed by Old Chapel The annual Michaelmas Concert is an opportunity to enjoy music from the School s best ensembles. The swing band and jazz band will also perform and include talent from the Lower School. The evening will highlight excellent work from our string groups including the quartets and Sinfonia and small ensembles including the wind quintet and vocal groups. This concert will showcase the extraordinarily diverse talents within the School s musical network. The concert will open the School s seasonal celebrations leading up to Christmas. We look forward to welcoming you to the festivities. - Free - Refreshments - All welcome (booking required) 12 ST JOHN S SCHOOL LEATHERHEAD
SJPA SJPA CHRISTMAS MARKET Saturday 2 December 10.30am 3.00pm Venue: Dining Hall Join us to celebrate Christmas with our magical St John s Christmas market. Christmas cheer will be available including stylish door wreaths and candle table decorations, pink gin, champagne and luxury confectionery, plus a fantastic selection of gifts for all the family. Stalls this year include interior furnishings, fashion and jewellery designers, and local artists. A Christmas café will serve warm food and beverages so you can enjoy a coffee or mulled wine while shopping up a Christmas storm. High-quality Christmas trees will also be available to order. - Entry 1 (Under 18s free) - All welcome (no booking required) ARTS AND EVENTS 2017 13
DRAMA SENIOR SCHOOL PLAY Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 December 7.30pm 9.45pm Venue: PAC The Senior School play is an opportunity for pupils in the Upper Fifth through Upper Sixth to be a part of the most significant school drama production of the year. Recent productions have included Our Country s Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker, The Trial by Steven Berkoff and The Government Inspector by Nikolai Gogol. - Free - Refreshments - All welcome (booking required) 14 ST JOHN S SCHOOL LEATHERHEAD
SJPA SJPA CHRISTMAS BALL Saturday 9 December 7.00pm late Venue: Dining Hall The annual SJPA Christmas is an event not to miss! This year promises to be better than ever before with delicious food and drink complimented by dancing and a live band. Please book early to avoid disappointment. - Ticket price TBC - Booking required via SJPA website: www.stjohnsleatherhead.co.uk/sjpa- Events.aspx. ARTS AND EVENTS 2017 15
MUSIC CHRISTMAS ROCK CONCERT Tuesday 12 December 5.30pm Venue: PAC auditorium St John s is privileged to have pupils in rock bands adding to the School s diverse musical life. Take the opportunity to hear them play alongside other performers singing solos, some of which are their own works. Many of the peripatetic staff have careers in professional bands and may perform alongside pupils. As the concert falls close to the end of Autumn Term the concert will likely have a festive edge. Last year the audience enjoyed a Christmas favourite performed by the staff in Santa hats! - Free - Refreshments - All welcome (booking required) 16 ST JOHN S SCHOOL LEATHERHEAD
MUSIC CHORAL SOCIETY Mondays (term time) 7.30pm 9.00pm Venue: Old Chapel Do you enjoy choral singing and have a couple of hours free on a Monday evening? We are a friendly group of around 40 people consisting mainly, though not at all exclusively, of St John s current and former parents, teachers and friends who meet on Monday evenings during term time from 7.30pm 9.00pm in the Old Chapel, and we would love to recruit new members in all voices. Our repertoire varies: last term, we sang John Rutter s Gloria at St John s Smith Square! There are no auditions. You are welcome even if you have not sung for a while, and you do not need to have any connection to St John s. If you would like more information about the Choral Society, please contact Ambie Desoutter, Honorary Secretary: ambiedesoutter@guitar10.plus.com. Open rehearsal: Choral Society returns from its summer break on Monday 11 September with an open rehearsal. Come along for a taster evening. ARTS AND EVENTS 2017 17
MUSIC LUNCHTIME RECITALS Thursdays throughout the Autumn Term 1.15pm 2.00pm Venue: Old Chapel Dates for lunch time recitals may change, so please telephone 01372 373000 to confirm on the day. 14 September Music scholars 21 September Singers 28 September Organists & pianists 5 October Wind & brass players 12 October String players 19 October No recital 9 November No recital 16 November Ensembles 23 November ABRSM candidates 30 November Staff 7 December No recital Soup and sandwiches are served at this event.. - Free - Refreshments - All welcome (no booking required) 18 ST JOHN S SCHOOL LEATHERHEAD
CHAPEL CHAPEL SERVICES Sundays 7.15pm Venue: Chapel Services sung by the Chapel choir. 10 September School Service 24 September School Evensong 12 November School Service on Remembrance Sunday 23 November Service of Commemoration 3 December Eucharist on Advent Sunday ARTS AND EVENTS 2017 19
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EVENTS AT ST JOHN S SCHOOL Epsom Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8SP T +44 (0) 1372 231529 E events@stjohns.surrey.sch.uk stjohnsleatherhead.co.uk Registered Charity No: 312064