Innovation takes centre stage at House Music Competition

More than 270 Tonbridge boys took to the stage to perform during the school’s latest House Music Competition.

In an event which showcased musical innovation and creativity, boys from all 12 Houses played their own arrangements of classic songs by artists ranging from Elvis Presley and David Bowie to Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs and Coldplay. Each House did one amplified and one acoustic song, performing to a capacity crowd at the school’s EM Forster Theatre. 

The competition is judged on criteria including standard of performance, variety of programme, musical innovation, age range and number of performers. 

Whitworth were crowned winners of the House Music Cup, with Parkside runners up. 

Mark Forkgen, the school’s Director of Music, said he was hugely impressed not only with the musicianship on display but that innovation was at the heart of the performances. “The boys showed great imagination in coming up with their own interpretations of songs, and were not afraid to take risks and create bold new arrangements,” he said.

“Highlights for me included Hill Side’s ‘folk meets double violin concerto’ offering of Guns N Roses’ Sweet Child Of Mine, and a string version of Aerosmith’s Dream On by Oakeshott.”  

Boys were also involved in the stage management of the evening, providing sound and technical support, as well as filming and production.

House Music Competition results:
House Music Cup: Whitworth
Runners up: Parkside
Cullen Shield for Best Acoustic Item: Ferox Hall for Another Love
The Paul Gamblin Award for Best Amplified Item: School House for Chasing Clocks
Best Arrangement: Ayo Ogunyemi and Sean Yap (PS5) for More Than Words / Man in the Mirror

Pictures by Clair Miller.