Mr C. Minion, House System Leader, writes:

This year around 120 students took part in the annual House Music Competition,  competing for the Dominic Caswell Trophy.

As in previous years, the Houses have to perform three pieces.

1. The Choral Piece – a piece where houses can display their vocal and harmony prowess to the full (accompaniment/backing track allowed)
2. The Instrumental Piece – live instruments only – no voices!
3. The Free Choice – play anything, any combination of instruments/voices but it better impress!

No student could participate in the performance of more than two events (which includes conducting). Points were awarded for each event with a winner announced for each.

Other awards given were: Best Newcomer, Best Vocal Performance, Best Instrumental Performance, Mass Participation, Audience Prize, Special Award.

The winning House are the House with the most points at the end of the evening.

In between these rounds we had pieces by the Jazz Band and Uber Choir, Senior Choir, Stags and Vocailini, showing the variety and talent of students in the music department.

After a wonderful evening which encompassed all year groups and a huge variety of pieces, all chosen, arranged, directed and performed by the students we had our eventual winners.

The final positions after much deliberating were as follows:

1st : Ashridge
2nd : Knebworth
3rd : Brocket
4th : Hatfield/Sopwell
6th : Offley

Well done to all the students concerned and also thanks to the Sound and Light Crew, The Members of FOSS for supplying and serving refreshments, Mrs M Valentine for reprographics and Mr Crann and Mrs Jackson for their tireless work in the Music Department. If you haven’t yet visited www.stanboroughmusic.com for an insight into what goes on at Stanborough Music then please take time to have a look.

 

Mr S. McQueen, Subject Leader: Drama, writes:

Stanborough School’s annual House Drama Competition took place at the end of last term and was a feast of theatrical accomplishment. Each of the six houses, (led by their Sixth Form House Captains), had to create, rehearse and then perform a piece of theatre lasting between 30-40 mins.

The Performances this year were:

Ashridge– Lights Out: a creepy supernatural horror adapted from a film exploring a shadowy creature attacking a group of school children and what they have to do to stop it.

Brocket– Back to the Future: the 1980s classic time traveling comedy reimagined for the stage.

Hatfield– The Wizard of Oz: an adaptation of the famous book, musical and film exploring Dorothy Gale’s adventures in Oz.

Knebworth- In Time: a stage version of the science fiction film in which everyone stops ageing at 25, but life and time itself becomes currency.

Offley– Oliver Twist: a stage adaptation of the classic Dickens’ novel, showing the troubles the orphan Oliver has with such characters as Fagin, Bill Sykes and The Artful Dodger.

Sopwell– The Truman Show: an adaptation of the film showing the life of Truman Burbank, the unwitting star of an elaborate reality TV show.

All performances were creative, entertaining and a huge congratulations must go out to the House Captains for writing, adapting, directing and producing six excellent House Dramas.

A series of awards, the Stanborough Oscars if you will, are awarded by the judges for outstanding work or performance throughout the final performance day.

It was a hard-fought competition spread over 4 days. Myself and Mr Crann awarded up to 30 marks per house for the first three days; based on their work back-stage, their work with the Sound and Light Team and the performances that they gave.

The awards given were:

The Sound & Light Award: Dan Paget, Knebworth, for planning and programming all the lights for all the performances.

Best Sound and Light in performance:  Ashridge, for their use of special effects in Lights Out.

Best Newcomers: James Flint, Abbie Woolner, Phoebe Wilkins, Hatfield, for playing Munchkins, Flying Monkeys and Emerald City Guards and Citizens.

Best Cameo Role: Callum Kirwan, Hatfield, for playing The Wicked Witch of the West.

Best Supporting Actor: Daniel Rowe, Ashridge, for playing Dan.

Best Supporting Actress: Caitlin Maciver, Knebworth, for playing the Time Keeper.

Best Actor: Sam Baird, Knebworth, for playing Will Salas.

Best Actress: Georgia Burgess, Hatfield, for playing Dorothy Gale.

Best Direction: Jasmine Gaydon and Lily O’Keeffe,  Hatfield.

It was a hard-fought competition spread over four days. Myself and Mr Crann awarded up to 30 marks per house for the first three days based on their work back-stage, their work with the Sound and Light Team and the performances that they gave.

100 marks were awarded on the final day by our two judges. This year Mr Brown and Ms McCarthy judged the final performances and a tough decision it was for them, with first and second place being separated by just one point.

The final scores were:

1st :  Knebworth, 116 points

2nd : Hatfield, 115 points

3rd : Ashridge, 111 points

4th : Offley, 98 points

5th Sopwell, 93 points

6th : Brocket 91 points

Special thanks must go to Mr Brown and Ms McCarthy as our judges and extra-special thanks to Mr Crann and the Sound and Light Team for all their hard work.

Finally, huge congratulation once again to the directors, cast and back stage teams for each of the six houses for creating six wonderful performances. Well done.

 

 

Miss F. Smith, Subject leader: Dance, writes:

This year’s House Dance took place during the evening of Monday the 6th November. As usual, there was a great atmosphere and a real sense of excitement and support from each House and our audience. It was an extremely successful show, completely choreographed by the students, with great leadership from our House captains. We had over 90 students involved in the competition, which is the largest number since the competition began six years ago. Each year the standard of the performances improves, with students being responsible for all of the costumes, lighting and sound, make up and, of course, choreography.

Each House carefully picked a theme for their dances. This year’s themes were: Ashridge – Musicals, Brocket – Iconic, Hatfield – Royalty, Knebworth – The Circus, Offley – Angels and Devils, Sopwell – Once Upon a Time

Performance awards were given to the following students:

Faith Beckles, for her engaging and frightening portrayal of Maleficent in her solo for Sopwell House. Knebworth’s Tatiana Lwin and Megan Kwashi, for their ring leader duet.

Choreography awards went to:

Ashridge House, for best choreography.

Offley House, for their emotive small group choreography.

Props and costume award went to:

Brocket House, who used props in all three dances (yes, I’m counting the Can-Can skirts!), which added to the choreography and theme of each number.

Best newcomer award went to;

Pheobe Wilkins in Hatfield, for committed and engaging performances –well done!!

After arguably the closest competition yet, there was a great deal of discussion and deliberation. The eagerly awaited results were:

1st – Ashridge – Three contrasting dances that linked clearly to their theme of ‘Musicals’, each piece was visibly well rehearsed, with a very high standard of performance. The duet and tap solo had excellent technique and performance, with the group number displaying great choreography and a real sense of fun, (we wanted to be dancing with them!)

2nd – Offley – An excellent standard of performance and clear link to the theme of ‘Angels and Devils’. A real highlight being their small group number with excellent performances from all five dancers. They also did well with a very large ensemble piece.

3rd – Brocket – Great re-creation of iconic dances, a very strong solo performance… with a few extras. Good sense of fun throughout and excellent props. Three well-rehearsed dances that were a real hit with the audience. Well done for scaring one of the judges!

4th – Sopwell – A good response to their theme of ‘Once Upon a Time’, a very strong solo performance and a well thought out large group number, including effective choreographic devices –very dramatic and unexpected at times!

5th – Knebworth – Another fun theme, the duet had great energy and dynamic qualities, both excellent performers. The solo and group were clear responses to their theme.

6th – Hatfield – A fun response to their theme of ‘Royalty’, lovely to see lots of new faces taking part this year. Roll on next year, Hatfield!

A huge well done to all the students involved. The evening showcased the depth of talent at Stanborough and the commitment and organisational skills of our students. It was particularly impressive seeing our House captains, many of whom are not dancers themselves, producing such fantastic displays. The wonderfully supportive atmosphere and standard of the show was noted by parents and staff who attended.

Thanks to Mr Crann and his fantastic sound and light crew for their organisation and efforts leading up to and during the event. Thanks also to our judges, Miss McLean and Miss Russell, who provided their expertise at the event. Let’s invite them back next year!

And a special mention to Stephanie Conder as Leading House Ambassador for her excellent work behind the scenes.

Thanks to Mr Minion, who expertly compered the event, and of course all the parents and staff who came along to support.