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ST EDWARD’S
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F E A T U R E S
The Music School
The Ferguson Music School was built when
pupil numbers were considerably smaller, so
for a number of years, we were restricted
both by inadequate facilities and an acute
shortage of space for the ever growing
numbers of music lessons and ensembles:
the need for a new building for music was
self-evident.
The generosity of many OSE and parents
over a number of years, coupled with the
School’s commitment to a strong focus on
music, have allowed this dream to become
a reality.
The brand new £7m Ogston Music
School, by Tim Ronalds Architects, opened
in January. It features 20 practice rooms,
seven ensemble rooms, The Weston
Recital Room (with seating for 100 people),
dedicated Music classrooms, The Fenton
Recording Studio, a Rock Room, and The
Ferguson Music Library. The School is
now able to house the growing number
of musicians and provide the space and
resources to allow their creativity to thrive.
On Sunday 23rd April, we were
delighted to welcome OSE musicians
back to the School for a special
celebration to mark the opening of
the brand new Ogston Music School –
see page 42 for the full report. If you
were not able to join us but would like
to see the new Music School, please
contact the OSE office on 01865
319438 and we would be very happy
to show you round.
Music teaching resources have been
updated to fit within the new physical space.
Donations from many OSE during successive
telephone campaigns have allowed us to
restore the School’s Bosendorfer piano
(pictured here in the new Weston Recital
Room with Director of Music Alex Tester),
obtain a Transacoustic piano, equip all
20 practice rooms with new pianos and
purchase a variety of musical instruments.
The School has named an Ensemble Room
after the St Edward’s Society, in recognition
of their kind support of the Music School.
The next goal is to obtain a Chamber Organ
to accompany the choir and orchestra in
concerts, and enable us to perform baroque
works in the Weston Recital Room.