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It is our aim to engender an appreciation and love of all things musical in our school community, whilst encouraging our students to understand the benefits of music on all aspects of their own and other peoples' lives.

The music department at Langton Boys is a vibrant, hardworking and exciting place to be. We strive for excellence in all that we do and expect our students to do the same. Musicians that integrate themselves into the department are provided with a solid basis for further musical studies and many fun and fantastic performance opportunities. Whilst preparing our students for some of the top universities in the country and building their skills for a career in teaching or performance, we are keen to dispel the myth that music training will only provide limited job prospects, and wish to open our student’s minds to the growing opportunities for alternative careers in music.

About the Department

Along with the four members of teaching staff, there are over 20 instrumental teachers working in the department on a weekly basis.  We feel that it is of great benefit to our students to be taught by professional performers and academics, providing them with solid role models to aspire to.  All of the teachers perform alongside the students as part of our extensive concert calendar.  We like to offer our students the opportunity to tackle challenging repertoire, including recent performances of Mozart’s Piano Concerto in D Minor and Saint Saen’s Carnival of the Animals by our school orchestra, Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb and Rossini’s Petiite Messe Solennelle with our main school choir and a production of The Pirates of Penzance with the school orchestra and all student cast.  We have recently performed Britten’s Noyes Fludde in conjunction with Chartham Primary School.  The Chamber Choir are proud to have performed evensong in Canterbury Cathedral and have sung for the annual conference for the World Organisation for Early Childhood Education (OMEP).  Many of our students further their musical studies at university and we are proud to have helped several students gain places at top institutions, including Oxford, Cambridge and the Royal Academy of Music. 

We run 14 different extra-curricular music ensembles per week during lunchtime, form times and after school. These are all free to join and are run by experts. There are groups of varying ability, so there is something for everyone. We also have practice rooms available for students to rehearse/practice before, during and after the school day. Please see the Extra-curricular attachment for more information.

Useful Links:

Click HERE to view our first Interhouse Music competition video

Langton Music Centre Video

Our Performances (click on the links below to listen/watch)

Commemoration Service 2023 

Girls’ Choir singing May it Be from Fellowship of the Ring

Fantasia for Commemoration composed by Year 13 student Joe Cobb for his A Level coursework

Other Performances

Pergolesi Stabat Mater Girls Choir and String Quartet

O Holy Night – Christmas Carol Service at Canterbury Cathedral

First Movement Elgar’s Cello Concerto

Dambusters March by Eric Coates

Haydn Piano Concerto in D (1st Movement)

Vivaldi Magnificat

Year 13 A level Music students perform Maggie Baxter’s A level composition at the Painted Hall in Greenwich

 

 

 

 

Emily Renshaw-Kidd

Director of Music at the Langton

Emily has taught music at the Langton since 2006 and became Director of Music in 2014. She leads a vibrant and high achieving department of curricular and extra-curricular music.  Alongside her career as a teacher and professional singer, Emily also directs a wide range of choral and orchestral ensembles.  Emily plays the piano, cello and became one of the first female lay clerks at Canterbury Cathedral in 2021. Currently holding the post of Artistic Director of the Canterbury Cantata Trust, Emily leads several community singing groups, focusing on music as a form of improving both physical and mental health, whilst caring for each other. She is very proud of the school’s involvement in Skylark’s Sing to Beat Parkinson’s which she leads, along with the students, at the Parkinson’s Centre for Integrated Therapies. (emilyrenshaw.co.uk)

Lucy Gove

Song Centre Co-cordinator and Music Teacher at the Langton

Lucy Gove has taught at Langton Boys since 2014.  She leads many projects and specialises in musical outreach, particularly with our local primary schools.  Since working with us, Lucy has collaborated with Glyndebourne Opera and the Philharmonia Orchestra and she enjoys bringing the thrill of live performance to our students.  She leads the annual Langton Christmas Choirs Festival at Colyer Fergusson Hall, Canterbury and is very proud to have established the Langton House Music Cup.  Beyond the school, Lucy is a choral conductor and mezzo-soprano and is the Musical Director of Folkestone Choral Society.

Mr Martin Gove

Martin graduated with a Masters in music in 2005 and has followed a career as a freelance musician and teacher.  He performs on trumpet regularly in local orchestras and bands, appearing often at the Cathedral, the Marlowe and Colyer Ferguson Hall.  Martin plays soprano cornet with the Langton Brass Band and is looking forward to the musical challenges ahead after their victory and promotion to the 2nd section.  As well his work at the Langton Martin also teaches at the Kings School and St. Edmunds school, Canterbury.

Dr. Sam Bailey

Music Teacher at the Langton and Improvisation Specialist

Sam Bailey is an improvising pianist and composer equally at home in the world of contemporary music or jazz. Sam has a PhD in improvised music and runs a successful series of weekly improvised and experimental music, film and poetry events called Free Range.www.sambailey.space

 

Music and Health

The department has an enthusiastic and meaningful interest in the benefits of music on physical and mental wellbeing. Following a wonderful 3-day festival in 2016, the department continued to develop and run projects involving the community. Some of these projects included The Butterfly Machine (working with the RNIB to help visually impaired people experience visual arts through music), the Skylark’s Sing to Beat Parkinson’s project and the Melody for Me project (working with dementia patients to help restore memories through music). We are proud to announce that in 2021 The Langton Music Department took over the leadership of the Canterbury Skylarks, welcoming the members into our Tong Centre on a fortnightly basis for an hour of singing, movement and fun. Since then, we have formed a collaboration with the Parkinson’s Centre for Integrated Therapies and we now run our sessions in the PCIT centre, which we hope will encourage more of our medical and research students to get involved. We believe that this idea of working with our community as part of the school day is an important part of building relationships and empathy. Mrs Renshaw-Kidd (Director of Music) leads the sessions, with students (musicians, dancers, scientists, anyone who is interested) taking part in the activities alongside the Skylarks. As the students become more confident and begin to understand the benefits of singing and movement on the symptoms of Parkinson’s, they have the opportunity to take over the leadership, trying out their own songs, exercises and activities. It is our hope that, in the future, our students will be part of developing a published methodology for Singing with Parkinson’s. The bonds, empathy and relationships that are built through this regular interaction between the students and members of Skylarks are heart-warming and, we believe, that they are absolutely integral to the future of humankind. It is our hope that Langton students will not only develop their altruistic outlook and an understanding of how music can be used to relieve the symptoms of various physical and mental health conditions but will see the power in bridging generational gaps and caring for each other through singing. We believe that our future musicians and medical professionals alike should understand the benefit of music on so many aspects of healthcare.

Extra Curricular Music

Click HERE for the 2024/25 programme

Langton Music Centre Newsletter

Your concert last night was nothing less than superb. We marvelled at the professional enthusiasm and joy, which was apparent in all the performances.  The standard was exceptional. Most of all it was clear that all your musicians were valued and appreciated which does you and your fantastic team credit

Parent Feedback

The staff are taking the music department in a direction which will ensure the importance of music in young people's lives, both promoting the school and its balanced view of learning and promulgating the caring community which is the hallmark of the Langton institution.

Professor Grenville Hancox MBE

I have been so grateful to you and your amazing music dept for everything you do. Our son's happiness and settledness at senior school is entirely down to the friendliness and inclusiveness of your dept. You and your department are a very inspiring.

Parent Feedback Year 8

I’d like to thank you for the tremendous effort you put into The Langton’s music department - the fruits are evident, and we are delighted how well ****** has settled in and with the enthusiasm she shows for the school in general and the Music Department in particular — thank you!

Parent Feedback Year 12 A level student

You can’t have a better gift in life in my book. SLBS has been a big part of that - he’s been able to come back to music on his terms without pressure. Magic!

Parent of Year 13 A level student who joined us from another school

Joanne and I wish to thank you and send our congratulations for your wonderful concert last night. It was a triumph - for the soloists, the orchestra, the school staff and the helpers - but it was principally a triumph for you. We never cease to be amazed at the ambition you pursue.

Parent Feedback Year 12 A level student

Thank you again for such a wonderful concert yesterday. It was such a lovely occasion. You will be pleased to hear that over £500 was raised for St Dunstan’s church. More than ever before! We are so grateful.

Churchwarden of St. Dunstan's Church

The Skylarks are so lucky to have SLBS staff and students leading our sessions. At the moment, this singing occasion is the only outing from home apart from to and from doctors. After the session, we feel revived and enormous appreciation for everyone's enthusiasm. This kind encouragement is not normal in the life we live now and so precious for us. Thank you so much. We cannot express enough this rare kindness.

Junko Lord - wife of Tony Lord both members of Skylarks Sing to Beat Parkinson's