St. Mary's Music School
Encyclopedia
St Mary's Music School is a music school in Scotland
located in Edinburgh
, for boys and girls aged 9 to 19 and is also the Choir School of St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
. The school provides education for children with a special talent in music, and is Scotland's only full-time specialist music school.
and assessment, based on musical ability and potential and regardless of personal circumstances. Scottish Government funding, up to 100%, is available through the statutory
Aided Places scheme to assist with the cost of tuition and boarding fees. The School draws pupils from many different backgrounds, from all parts of Scotland and abroad. Boarding Facilities are available.
In addition, students regularly play in external youth orchestras such as the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra, National Children’s Orchestra of Scotland, National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
, National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.
Students also have the opportunity to form their own bands such as the contemporary folk-fusion band Kilairum.
In 1970 Dennis Townhill
and the Provost, Philip Crosfield, became the driving force of a plan not only to safeguard the future of the Choir School of St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh but to transform it into a new and vibrant entity. In 1972 the school was expanded into a specialist music school on the lines of the Yehudi Menuhin School
, with Lord Menuhin becoming patron and referring to it as "my younger sister-school in Scotland". The school educates young instrumentalists, composers and singers. In 1976 the choir was opened to girls. In 1995, the music school moved out of the Cathedral Grounds and into its current location at Coates Hall.
St Mary's is a member of the UK Music and Dance Excellence (MADE) Schools and is similar to other specialist music schools throughout Europe such as the Dresden Music Gymnasium; Sächsisches Landesgymnasium für Musik "Carl Maria von Weber". The current President is Professor John Wallace, a trumpet player and principle of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
. Patron is the composer James McMillan
.
for Sheriff Napier in 1850 as a small Baronial house. In 1891 the building was bought by the Scottish Episcopal Church
for use as the Edinburgh Theological College
and enlarged by Sydney Mitchell adding a late gothic chapel. In 1913 Robert Lorimer
added a storey to the main block much improving the whole group.
In 1995 Coates Hall was sold to St Mary’s Music School and houses the (de-consecrated) chapel which is used for concerts. The Chapel contains three beautifully drawn stained glass windows . by J. Ninian Cooper which includes Scotland's first saints;. St Columba and St Ninian. The School also has two libraries, staff offices, bedrooms for boarding pupils, and around 30 music practice rooms. Academic subjects are mainly taught in two modern buildings withinin the school grounds.
The school is surrounded by gardens in the heart of Edinburgh's West End and has good transport connections due to its proximity to Haymarket railway station
in Edinburgh
The Song School within the nearby Cathedral precinct is still used by the Choristers for daily practice, where they are surrounded by beautiful murals by Phoebe Anna Traquair
. It was these murals (1888–92), which won Traquair national recognition.. Within a tunnelled ceiling interior the East Wall depicts the cathedral clergy and choir. The South depicts Traquair’s admired contemporaries such as Dante Gabriel Rosetti, William Holman Hunt
, and George Frederic Watts
. , the North, birds and choristers sing together. The West shows the four beasts singing the Sanctus .
,;
"He who is only a musician is no musician".
Whilst pupils at St Mary's generally go on to conservatiores or university, this is usually but not always to study music.
Music schools in Scotland
Music schools in Scotland are available at several levels. Formal music education begins at 4½ years and can progress as high as postgraduate studies. Education in Scotland is a responsibility of the Scottish Government...
located in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, for boys and girls aged 9 to 19 and is also the Choir School of St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. The school provides education for children with a special talent in music, and is Scotland's only full-time specialist music school.
Entrance
Entry to the school is selective by auditionAudition
An audition is a sample performance by an actor, singer, musician, dancer or other performing artist.Audition may also refer to:* The sense of hearing* Adobe Audition, audio editing software...
and assessment, based on musical ability and potential and regardless of personal circumstances. Scottish Government funding, up to 100%, is available through the statutory
Statute
A statute is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority that governs a state, city, or county. Typically, statutes command or prohibit something, or declare policy. The word is often used to distinguish law made by legislative bodies from case law, decided by courts, and regulations...
Aided Places scheme to assist with the cost of tuition and boarding fees. The School draws pupils from many different backgrounds, from all parts of Scotland and abroad. Boarding Facilities are available.
Performance
The school operates a large chamber orchestra, a Junior String Sinfonia and a noted string ensemble which develops the best string players. Jazz and Traditional Scottish Music feature in both specialist ensembles and in Jazz and Scottish Music Days. Students perform regularly throughout Edinburgh and beyond. In addition to internal lunchtime concerts, students perform at the Queen’s Hall, Jazz House, Kirks, Cathedral and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. Students also are requested to play at many civic occasions including Royalty, the Scottish Parliament and other public events such as NATO visit to EdinburghIn addition, students regularly play in external youth orchestras such as the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra, National Children’s Orchestra of Scotland, National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
The National Youth Orchestras of Scotland has provided music education and performance experience for young musicians throughout Scotland since its formation in 1979....
, National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.
Students also have the opportunity to form their own bands such as the contemporary folk-fusion band Kilairum.
History
St Mary’s Music School was founded as the Song School of St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral in 1880 to educate choristors for the newly built St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral. At that time the school was located at Old Coates House and the adjacent Song School Building both within the Cathedral precincts.In 1970 Dennis Townhill
Dennis Townhill
Dennis William Townhill OBE was an English organist and composer.Born in Lincoln, he was educated at Lincoln School and studied under Dr Gordon Archbold Slater at Lincoln Cathedral....
and the Provost, Philip Crosfield, became the driving force of a plan not only to safeguard the future of the Choir School of St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh but to transform it into a new and vibrant entity. In 1972 the school was expanded into a specialist music school on the lines of the Yehudi Menuhin School
Yehudi Menuhin School
The Yehudi Menuhin School is a specialist music school in Surrey, England. It was founded in 1963 by the violinist Yehudi Menuhin.The School also gives pupils the best musical education any specialist schools can with a number of internationally main teachers, Simon Fischer , Natalya Boyarskaya ,...
, with Lord Menuhin becoming patron and referring to it as "my younger sister-school in Scotland". The school educates young instrumentalists, composers and singers. In 1976 the choir was opened to girls. In 1995, the music school moved out of the Cathedral Grounds and into its current location at Coates Hall.
St Mary's is a member of the UK Music and Dance Excellence (MADE) Schools and is similar to other specialist music schools throughout Europe such as the Dresden Music Gymnasium; Sächsisches Landesgymnasium für Musik "Carl Maria von Weber". The current President is Professor John Wallace, a trumpet player and principle of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a conservatoire of music, drama, and dance in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Educational Association, it is the busiest performing arts venue in Scotland...
. Patron is the composer James McMillan
James McMillan
James McMillan may refer to:* James McMillan , founder of Fort Langley, British Columbia* James W. McMillan , Union officer during the American Civil War* James McMillan , U.S. Senator from Michigan...
.
Location
Coates Hall was originally designed by David BryceDavid Bryce
David Bryce FRSE FRIBA RSA was a Scottish architect. Born in Edinburgh, he was educated at the Royal High School and joined the office of architect William Burn in 1825, aged 22. By 1841, Bryce had risen to be Burn's partner...
for Sheriff Napier in 1850 as a small Baronial house. In 1891 the building was bought by the Scottish Episcopal Church
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
for use as the Edinburgh Theological College
Edinburgh Theological College
Edinburgh Theological College was founded in 1810 to train Anglican clergy to serve in the Scottish Episcopal Church . In 1891 the College moved to Coates Hall in Grosvenor Crescent where it gradually expanded to include residential accommodation and a library . The College’s academic gown was ...
and enlarged by Sydney Mitchell adding a late gothic chapel. In 1913 Robert Lorimer
Robert Lorimer
Sir Robert Stodart Lorimer was a prolific Scottish architect noted for his restoration work on historic houses and castles, and for promotion of the Arts and Crafts style.-Early life:...
added a storey to the main block much improving the whole group.
In 1995 Coates Hall was sold to St Mary’s Music School and houses the (de-consecrated) chapel which is used for concerts. The Chapel contains three beautifully drawn stained glass windows . by J. Ninian Cooper which includes Scotland's first saints;. St Columba and St Ninian. The School also has two libraries, staff offices, bedrooms for boarding pupils, and around 30 music practice rooms. Academic subjects are mainly taught in two modern buildings withinin the school grounds.
The school is surrounded by gardens in the heart of Edinburgh's West End and has good transport connections due to its proximity to Haymarket railway station
Haymarket railway station
For the Tyne and Wear Metro see Haymarket Metro station.Haymarket railway station is in Haymarket, Edinburgh, Scotland. It is Edinburgh's second largest station after Waverley, a major commuter and long-distance destination, located quite centrally near the West End...
in Edinburgh
The Song School within the nearby Cathedral precinct is still used by the Choristers for daily practice, where they are surrounded by beautiful murals by Phoebe Anna Traquair
Phoebe Anna Traquair
Phoebe Anna Traquair was an Irish artist, noted for her role in the Arts and Crafts movement in Scotland, as an illustrator, painter and embroiderer.-Family life:...
. It was these murals (1888–92), which won Traquair national recognition.. Within a tunnelled ceiling interior the East Wall depicts the cathedral clergy and choir. The South depicts Traquair’s admired contemporaries such as Dante Gabriel Rosetti, William Holman Hunt
William Holman Hunt
William Holman Hunt OM was an English painter, and one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.-Biography:...
, and George Frederic Watts
George Frederic Watts
George Frederic Watts, OM was a popular English Victorian painter and sculptor associated with the Symbolist movement. Watts became famous in his lifetime for his allegorical works, such as Hope and Love and Life...
. , the North, birds and choristers sing together. The West shows the four beasts singing the Sanctus .
Academic achievements
St Mary's Music School was named as Scottish Independent Secondary School of the Year in 2007 and its academic results are consistently excellent. A former Music Director, Nigel Murray, wrote in 1994 that the self-discipline acquired in the devotion to the mastery of an art as self-fulfilling as Music was bound to have a beneficial effect on the rest of the pupil's work and play. Murray continued that if he had a motto for St Mary's Music School it would be the words of the great Italian pianist Ferruccio BusoniFerruccio Busoni
Ferruccio Busoni was an Italian composer, pianist, editor, writer, piano and composition teacher, and conductor.-Biography:...
,;
"He who is only a musician is no musician".
Whilst pupils at St Mary's generally go on to conservatiores or university, this is usually but not always to study music.
Saturday school
Over 100 local children attend Saturday morning classes during term time and cater for children from pre-school upwards. Classes include; Pre-school Kodály; Early Years Kodály (Primary 1 and 2); Singing Classes; Theory; Beginner Instrumental lessons(Violin, Cello, Guitar, Recorder, Clarinet, Clarsach, Accordion, Mini Bass); Recorder Ensembles; and Beginner Chamber Music. Informal "ice cream concerts" take place at the end of the year in Palmerston Place Church where every performer is given an ice cream after their performance.Notable former pupils
- Alan Benzie – pianist; winner, BBC Scotland Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2007
- Monica Brett-Crowther – mezzo-soprano
- Jerome Broun – Oboist; Finalist of Isle of Wight International Oboe Competition
- Daisy ChuteAll AngelsAll Angels are a British classical crossover group formed in 2006, consisting of Daisy Chute, Rachel Fabri, Melanie Nakhla andCharlotte Ritchie....
singer – member of All AngelsAll AngelsAll Angels are a British classical crossover group formed in 2006, consisting of Daisy Chute, Rachel Fabri, Melanie Nakhla andCharlotte Ritchie.... - Paul GalbraithPaul GalbraithPaul Galbraith is a Scottish-born classical guitarist known for his unique style of playing.-Biography:Paul Galbraith had his first guitar lessons with Graham Wade, continuing his studies with Gordon Crosskey at the Chethams School for Young Musicians.At the age of 17, Galbraith won the Silver...
– guitarist - Helen Grime - Oboeist and Composer
- Susan HamiltonSusan HamiltonSusan Hamilton is a Scottish Soprano focusing on Baroque and Contemporary music Her earliest musical educaion was as a chorister at St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral and as a pupil at St Mary's Music School in Edinburgh....
– soprano - Philip Higham – cellist
- David HorneDavid Horne (composer)David Horne is a Scottish composer, pianist, and teacher.A resident composer with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic for four years, he has been awarded several commissions...
– composer - Mike Peden- Record Producer
- Steven Osborne – pianist
- Andrew Robb – Double Bass; winner, BBC Scotland Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2009
- Garry WalkerGarry WalkerGarry Walker is a Scottish conductor.Garry Walker is the conductor of the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra, principal guest conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra , permanent guest conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , and principal conductor of Paragon Ensemble.When he was...
– conductor