Students and staff at The Totteridge Academy this week marked the end of 2018 in style with a spectacular winter show for the local community.
Families, governors and children from local Barnet primary schools flocked to the academy to celebrate what has been another successful term for students and staff. The school hall was packed to the rafters for what was their most popular year yet of festive celebrations, ahead of the Christmas break.
The Winter Concert was an impressive showcase of students’ talents and creativity – performances ranged from jaw-dropping beat-boxing to beautiful soprano solos, and from classical piano to some very festive trumpets. Every year group got thoroughly involved, with the entire Year 7 cohort performing as an ensemble in the finale.
The event was organised by the academy’s Head of Music, James McEvoy-Stevenson, with a considerable amount of input from the student musicians themselves, many of whom took the time to choose and arrange their own pieces. Across the school school, everyone has been perfecting their performances for 6 weeks, dedicating after-school time to rehearsals to ensure the very best show for their guests.
In addition to students’ solo and ensemble pieces, guests were all encouraged to play an active part in the event. Local primary pupils sang carols with their secondary counterparts and even parents joined in with some of the most well-known songs including Once in Royal David’s City and Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
Chris Fairbairn, Principal of The Totteridge Academy, said:
“Our Winter Concert was a fitting way to draw another busy and successful term to its close and demonstrated what a talented, enthusiastic and supportive community we have here at The Totteridge Academy. I know everyone thoroughly enjoyed not only the chance to perform for friends and family but to welcome local primary schools and visitors to our academy as well.”
“Events like these are an important part of school life and what we call an ‘Education with Character’ – working together as a team, perfecting performances and delivering them with confidence. I have been so impressed by students’ dedication and drive throughout the term, in all their work, so I was delighted to see this reflected in the show’s success.”
One Year 10 student, Taylor Dawson, who helped behind the scenes for the event, said:
“I enjoyed it because there were so many amazing performers, and we got to spend time together as a community in Barnet!”