Celebrating the outstanding success of the Kilgraston Christmas Concert
The spirit of Christmas filled the air at Perth Concert Hall as the annual Kilgraston Christmas Concert came to life in a dazzling display of talent, joy, and festive cheer. The evening was a resounding success, showcasing the remarkable abilities and unyielding passion of our students.
The Kilgraston Christmas Concert has always been a highly anticipated event, but this year’s rendition exceeded all expectations. The concert featured a diverse array of performances, ranging from the brilliant ‘Whoops a-Daisy Angel’ by our Junior Years pupils to stunning duet by Upper Sixth pupils, Erin and Laura. Every element came together seamlessly to create an unforgettable experience for all in attendance.
The concert showcased the exceptional talents of our students, highlighting their dedication, commitment, and artistic flair. Weeks of preparation and practice culminated in a performance that left the audience enchanted and inspired. The level of professionalism and maturity displayed by our pupils was truly astounding, leaving no doubt that they have bright futures ahead in the world of performing arts.
There were so many highlights of the evening including the Kilgraston Drummers Fanfare with the eye-catching glowing drum sticks. The staff choir’s performance of ‘Mary, Did You Know?’ wowed the audience receiving cheers from the audience and pupils alike.
The Kilgraston Christmas Concert truly exemplified the power of the arts to bring people together and create a sense of community. Pupils, parents, staff, and members of the wider community gathered in the spirit of celebration and shared in the joyous atmosphere that permeated the venue. It was a testament to the collaborative effort of all involved, from the performers to the dedicated staff who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring the concert to life.
Beyond the exceptional performances, the success of the Kilgraston Christmas Concert showcased the values embedded in our school community. It demonstrated the importance of nurturing and encouraging young talent, fostering a love for the arts, and providing a platform for pupils to shine. The leadership and guidance of our dedicated teachers, who invest their time and expertise into cultivating the skills of our students, were evident throughout the concert.
As the festivities of the Christmas season now envelop us, the Kilgraston Christmas Concert stands as a testament to the talent, dedication, and spirit of our school. The success of the evening would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our parents, who have consistently championed the arts and encouraged their children to pursue their passions.
We extend our deepest gratitude to all those who attended and were part of this outstanding event. The Kilgraston Christmas Concert has once again reminded us of the transformative power of music and art and the importance of celebrating and nurturing the talent that fills our school community.
May the joy and inspiration ignited by the Christmas Concert continue to resonate within us all and guide our students towards a future filled with artistic pursuits and cultural appreciation.
Merry Christmas to everyone.
Kilgraston Christmas Concert 2022
On Friday 2nd December, the whole school community gathered in the spectacular setting of the Perth Concert Hall for our annual Christmas Concert.
The audience were wowed by performances in music, dance and drama based on Christmas cards each portraying a different theme from Disney to a Scottish Christmas. Kilgraston must be almost unique in having every pupil in the school on stage performing which gives the concert a genuine whole school community ethos. Pupils and staff had been busy rehearsing all term and four days of intensive rehearsals in the run up to the concert itself were a fantastic build up to the night itself.
Mr Morley and Mrs Murphy with the technical help of Mr Pryke were delighted with the concert itself and despite many pupils battling with coughs and colds gave their all on the stage. Mrs Murphy said of the concert, “”I was so happy we got to showcase all the talents of Kilgraston - from the visual artists to the Highland dancers, from the lyrical trio to the comedy sketches. I loved putting together the programme and I genuinely hope it reflected the very special place Kilgraston is and all the magic that Christmas offers us” while Laura in Lower 6th who is our Music Captain and took a leading role in the concert made reference to the excitement felt by pupils each year, “I look forward to the Christmas concert every year. The whole school rehearsing and performing together makes it really special to be a part of.”
But it was not only the pupils on the stage who were buzzing after the concert, it was lovely to receive so much behind the scenes support from staff, with one teacher commenting, “I am so, so proud to teach at Kilgraston when as a school we are represented by such an amazing display of talent, teamwork and a ‘can do’ attitude”. As the strains of songs that have been heard sung in corridors and on buses since late September start to fade away it is already time to start planning ahead for next year, do put the date in your diaries, Friday 8th December 2023!
Music at Kilgraston - find out more
Music is an intrinsic part of life at Kilgraston with the Music Department offering a wide array of activities with individual instrumental lessons, choirs and instrumental groups as well as class teaching from Reception through to Upper Sixth.
All pupils in the junior school and in Lower and Upper Four receive specialist music lessons as part of their curriculum. In the Junior School pupils are taught the basics of music through the Kodaly method of teaching which focuses on learning through singing games and the basics of music notation. They are also introduced to a range of instruments in class which from next session will include experiences in strings, woodwind and brass instruments delivered by our instrumental teachers. This carries on into the senior school where pupils in Lower 4th and Upper Four specialise in two instruments as well as studying topics in a wide range of musical genres. Music is then offered as an exam subject at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher levels and includes the three elements of performing, listening and composition which as well as preparing pupils for further study and careers in music also offer a range of transferrable skills.
Instrumental lessons are provided in the school by 15 visiting instrumental teachers in instruments ranging from bagpipes, pipe band drumming and clarsach through to guitar, drumkit, piano, voice and a range of string, brass and woodwind instruments. Over 90 pupils currently receive instrumental or vocal lessons with many pupils receiving lessons on a second instrument as well.
Supporting the learning undertaken in class and in instrumental lessons, we are fortunate to offer a wide range of music groups within the co-curricular programme with regular performance opportunities in concerts and other events throughout the year. There are groups to suit all interests from choirs and orchestras in both the senior and junior choirs to smaller groups such as the pipe band and clarsach group as well as opportunities for pupils to form groups such as jazz and rock bands. The highlight of the musical year is the annual Christmas Concert in the Perth Concert Hall which involves every pupil in the school with other highlights including regular lunchtime concerts, the annual Spring Concert and the Kilgraston Young Musician and Perform in Perth competitions.
In the past year the department has seen so many achievements for both individuals and groups. Coming out of two lockdowns where performance was so restricted, with audiences not allowed, it is testament to the pupils and staff that live music has made a return to life at Kilgraston. However this success is tinged with sadness as this summer we say farewell to music teacher and percussion instructor Mr Gordon Murch after many years at Kilgraston. The music department has benefited so much from Mr Murch’s wide experience in this time, but more importantly his warmth of character and the absolute joy he brings to all the pupils he works with in school from the very youngest reception children through to the most experienced musicians in the senior school. He will be greatly missed by all his pupils and colleagues but we know he will continue to enjoy music making in his retirement and we look forward to welcoming him back soon to Kilgraston.