Northampton School for Boys Big Band and Folk Ensemble Tour: Los Angeles 2024

Northampton School for Boys is an oversubscribed state boys’ school (1600 pupils). We are lucky to have a co-ed Sixth Form (with girls joining us from several local Schools to study). The school was founded in 1541 and has been on our current site since 1911.

Notable alumni:

Sir Malcolm Arnold – Composer

Sir Francis Crick – Scientist (discovered the double helix structure of DNA)

Matt Smith – Actor (Eleventh Doctor Who)

The Department is a busy place - over 20 ensembles rehearse weekly from String Quartets and Jazz Combos to Symphony Orchestras and Concert Bands. Nearly 300 individual instrumental lessons take place each week – taught by over 20 instrumental staff.

Curriculum lessons are weekly for KS3 (11 – 14) we see them for 90 mins. GCSE (15 – 16) and A Level Music (17 – 18) see pupils develop skills in historical analysis, composition and performance- we teach them for 2 doubles (GCSE) and three at A Level.

Including this year some of our ensembles have won national awards at the NCBF (National Concert Band Festival) and Music for Youth Finals. Our Big Band has worked with both the BBC Big Band and The Glenn Miller Orchestra and has also toured Florida working with Chuck Owen and the musicians at the University of Southern Florida and New York.

Our Folk Ensemble (Bodhran Bodhran – pronounced like the 80s pop band Duran Duran) was formed a year ago and has gone from strength to strength – lots are not here in Los Angeles, but the group normally consists of 3 fiddles, 2 cellos and lots of guitarists – Richard Stark conducts and rehearses the group and they put on regular dances and ceilidhs.

Programme to include:

NSB Big Band

Hit the Bricks – Gordon Goodwin

Tutu – Miles Davis/Marcus Miller arr. Mossman

Estate – Martino/Brighetti arr. John Wasson

The Way We Were (trombone feature – Guz Lopez Woodward) – Bergman/Hamlisch arr. Taylor

We Don’t Talk About Bruno – Lin Manuel Miranda arr. Murtha

Moondance – Van Morrison arr. Sheppard

In a Mellow Tone – Ellington arr. Nelson

Norwegian Wood – Lennon/McCartney arr. Holman

Out of the Doghouse – Morales

Soul Bossa Nova – Jones arr. Stitzel

Skyfall – Epworth/Adkins arr. Holmes (vocal feature – Josie Mae White)