On Friday the 19^th May we welcomed Paul Weston to the school to work with our most talented and gifted musicians. Paul is an award-winning expert in music technology and its uses within education. He spent the afternoon working with the pupils on various programs and devices ranging from an iPad rock band to a theremin, an electronic musical instrument controlled without physical contact, found in the Doctor Who and Star Trek themes. The masterclass developed the pupils’ understanding of music technology, creativity and its applications within creative music making.

Music and Munch in May displayed the great range of our Year 9 to 13 musicians in a lovely concert for our community. The concert opened with a mini-recital from Jimmy T, who gave assured performances of two vocal works by Fauré and Handel, showcasing an enormous vocal range. Next up was Arthur C, who had prepared thoroughly for his Music and Munch debut, with a trumpet piece by our very own David Stowell. Isadora A treated the audience to a beautiful solo violin Elegy by Jeffery Wilson, and Peter R gave a sensitive performance of Scarlatti’s Piano Sonata in G minor for his first Music and Munch performance; both were packed with musicality. The concert closed with a stunning performance by the Crickets, Gresham’s elite close-voice ensemble, singing Hey Nonny No and Small Rain from Humphrey Clucas Songs of Farewell. They were an outstanding ensemble – well done to Johnny D, Beatrice G, Jake O, Tamsin S, Freddie S, Ruby S and Jimmy T. Please do join us for the final Music and Munch of the academic year on Friday 9th June. 

On Friday 19^th May a group of Sixth Form pupils travelled to Norwich Puppet Theatre to see Sacré Théâtre’s’ performance of Chapeau Dani. The production was a homage to the late Dani Limon, UEA French lecturer, and performer in UEA French theatre over nearly 50 years. Gresham’s has watched Dani perform for many years now, and this year the performance consisted of a series of scenes and extracts that Dani performed in, or which in some way express her, woven together with text and music. It included scenes from plays by Feydeau, Genet, Giraudoux, Ionesco, Moliere, Sartre, and Voltaire. Carefully selected French songs performed by the cast accompany Queneau’s Zazie (dans le metro) as she travels through the whole production following ‘le chapeau’. This was particularly useful for our Sixth Form pupils who have and will study Ionesco, Molière and Sartre. Pupils involved were Daisy W, Honor S, Viktoria H, Hattie W, Kitty R, Beowulf O, Erik T and Phoebe W.

Year 9 pupils have been building Lego Sumo robots during GAPs time. A competition was held in school on Tuesday, ahead of the international competitions in November. Freddie L won the competition, and the pupils will make improvements ahead of the world’s biggest robotics festival which will take place in Tallinn, Estonia.

Members of the Rifle Club have recently received some amazing results. Ilana B, who has only been shooting since September, has just become the youngest person, in the last six years, to shoot a perfect 100 out of 100. It is almost unheard of for a Year 9 to achieve such an amazing piece of marksmanship.  This achievement was celebrated and recognised by presenting her with her framed target. Many congratulations Ilana. On the very same day that Ilana B shot her first ever 100, Marcella B (not pictured) learnt that she had just become the British U16 National Small-Bore Champion for 2023. This is wonderful achievement and hugely deserved. Many congratulations Marcella. Oliver R has shown huge commitment, hard work and determination towards his shooting this past year and all of his efforts have been rewarded. He has just won the English Under 18 National Small-Bore Championships for 2023. Huge congratulations and very well done to him. Georgina B has not had it all her own way this year. She is quite possibly the best U18 small-bore target rifle shot in the entire Country right now but has been beaten into second place in several competitions this year. This has not deterred her for one moment and she continues to strive for perfection every time she shoots. She has just won the British Junior Ladies Championships for 2023 and was also the 2^nd top shot in the Final of the main Ladies Championships, this year. Georgina is quite exceptional, many congratulations to her.

We marked Ascension Day this morning by continuing our wonderful Gresham’s tradition of choral singing from the Chapel roof top balcony. Schola Cantorum sang beautifully as the gathered Senior School listened from below.

Congratulations to 22 current and past pupils, who were invited to Buckingham Palace to celebrate completion of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award.

Pupils attended either a morning or afternoon presentation where the Duke of Edinburgh spoke together with various other guests sited throughout the Palace gardens.

Congratulations to Hattie R who competed for Team GB in the 3,000m Steeplechase at the Loughborough International Athletics Meeting. Having represented England, it has long been her goal to run for Great Britain too. She came 3rd, in what was her second ever Steeplechase race, and she was the youngest in the race.

A group of Year 12 pupils regularly visit Age Concern in Sheringham as part of their service activity. Some of the boys gave an informal recital last week as a one-off performance, which was organised by the pupils themselves. Well done!