Grace Notes - for U2 – L4 girls, (U3/L4 girls who are NOT in Cantabile). Non auditioned choir. MONDAYS. Week A at 9.15am. Week B in at 8.35am. Both weeks in the Junior School Hall. Run by Mrs. Bishop.                                                                                                                                                                                                            Cantabile – for U3/L4 boys and girls. Auditions were carried out last week. Please see Mrs Ashworth if you missed them but would still like to join.  MONDAYS. Week A at 9.15am. Week B at 8.35am. In Mu2. Run by Mrs Ashworth.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Treble Makers – for U2 to L4 boys. Non auditioned choir. WEDNESDAYS. Week A and B at 8.15am, in Mu2. Run by Mrs Ashworth.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Vivettes – Small, chamber vocal group. Auditioned. FRIDAYS. Week A at 2pm. Week B at 1.25pm. In Mu2. Run by Mrs Bishop. Music for Junior Ensembles are specially arranged for the ability and grades of the group, but also for individuals in the group. Our instrumental staff can write a part for you , whatever your grade, (although, we do recommend you have at least grade 1). Please do not be scared to turn up and give it a go!

Junior Brass - for all Juniors. Non auditioned. MONDAYS. Week A and Week B at 9.15am in the Recital Hall. Run by Mrs Eaglestone. Just turn up to the next rehearsal on Monday.

Junior Orchestra - for all Juniors. Non auditioned. MONDAYS. Week A and Week B at 4.10pm in the Recital Hall. Run by Mrs Eaglestone. Just turn up to the next rehearsal on

Junior Strings - for all Juniors. Non auditioned. WEDNESDAYS. Week A and Week B at 4.10pm in Mu2. Run by Mrs Wallace. Just turn up to the next rehearsal on Wednesday.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Theory and Aural training is an important part of preparing for grade examinations, and develops skills for the growing musician. All sessions are overseen by Mr Smith. We welcome all pupils to take part at any of the sessions.

All pupils have the opportunity to join the many extra-curricular musical activities on offer. These include six choirs, two orchestras, numerous coached ensembles, including string and wind chamber groups, a concert band, and a jazz band. Frequent concerts and recitals, an annual Music Competition and an instrumental recital series give pupils the opportunity for public performance. In recent years, musicians across the whole School have performed in sell out concerts at The Dorking Halls.

The Music Department also gives performances of highly acclaimed fully staged musicals, ranging from Phantom of the Opera, to Jesus Christ Superstar, Chess, Les Miserables, Crazy For You, Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd and Evita. Our latest production was Cabaret which was performed in Autumn 2015. Freemen’s was one of the first schools to perform this musical in the country.

The main senior Choir, Camerata regularly performs major choral works while Polyphony sings madrigals, anthems and choral music of a smaller scale. The repertoire of the Senior Orchestra ranges from symphonies by Haydn and Beethoven, to pieces as varied as the Film Music by James Horner and Frank Sinatra Medleys. Advanced pupils in the Sixth Form are frequently invited to play major concertos with the Senior Orchestra.

Musicians from the School have toured many countries in Europe as well as North America.

The last major concert "Sinfonica" was performed by an orchestra and music groups which combined the talents of pupils from both the Junior and Senior schools. Alistair Cockrem accompanied the orchestra in performing the first movement of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 2 in Bb major.

The ability to play a musical instrument is particularly encouraged within the School. Although never easy, it can be one of the most rewarding studies with which a pupil can enrich their school career. Learning an instrument allows pupils to express themselves and grow in self-confidence whilst developing other skills such as hand and eye co-ordination, spatial and social skills, and self reliance.

Instruction is given on an individual basis by a group of 18 qualified, specialist teachers who are all experts in their own particular field. All instrumental lessons take place during academic lessons, lunch and break periods, working on a system of rotation. Only members of the Sixth Form have lessons fixed in free periods.

Tuition is available on the:

• Bassoon Recorder
• Cello Organ
• Clarinet Piano
• Cornet Percussion
• Double Bass Trumpet
• Drum Kit Saxophone
• Euphonium Singing
• Oboe Trombone
• Flute Tuba
• French Horn Viola
• Guitar Violin

Individual lessons can also be arranged in Theory and Musicianship, Composition and Improvisation.