On Tuesday 24^th February, the Music Department hosted their second ‘Evening of Piano’ event. Now established as a firm favourite amongst our student pianists, the event is held annually with students performing their most recent work. Students enjoy using the Grand Piano in Primmer Hall and the relaxed atmosphere to the evening. This year 21 students took part, with additional students watching and supporting their peers. We heard pop-ballads, classical pieces and some self-compositions. The evening was rounded off by a 20-minute performance from an ex-student of Great Baddow High School – Xander Benham.

Xander Benham is a Classical/Jazz pianist who started learning the piano when he joined Great Baddow High School. Xander left Great Baddow nine years ago and has had an international career as a musician - for more information on Xander please click here: Biography | Xander Benham. He flew back from the Netherlands on Tuesday morning to join us for the ‘Evening of Piano’ and celebrate the talent of our student pianists. Xander explained to the students in attendance that it was “lovely to see so many pianists, of all different ages and abilities, because when he was a student here pianists were few and far between”.

Xander returned to Baddow on Wednesday morning and ran a 2-hour masterclass with our most Gifted and Talented pianists (Grade 7+). The eight students performed substantial pieces to Xander who then gave his professional advice on how they could improve the piece and/or their playing in general. The students also had a one-to-one Q+A session with Xander before a final performance by the man himself.

Thank you to all the parents, students, staff and Xander that joined us for the ‘Evening of Piano’.

Our next evening of music is the ‘Evening of Voice – KS3’ on Tuesday 21^st March 2023, swiftly followed by the ‘Evening of Voice – KS4/KS5’ on Thursday 23^rd March 2023.

Both evenings start at 5.15pm and we encourage you to bring refreshments to enjoy during the student performances. Students can attend both nights to watch, we have only issued a Key Stage for the performers due to the vast amount of vocalists in the school.