Extracurricular music
A wide variety of Enrichment Activities
We work closely with Camp Hill Girls’ School next door, and our large Orchestras, Bands and Ensembles are organised jointly with them. The main Orchestras and Bands are directed by the Heads of Music and Training Groups are conducted by Instrumental Teachers. Our Instrumental Teachers are expert in directing a wide variety of smaller ensembles.
Three orchestras and three bands rehearse each week, as well as many choirs and other chamber ensembles. The repertoire performed ranges from music by great composers to arrangements of popular tunes. These are some of the groups meeting this academic year:
| Ensemble | Standard | Entry | |
| Orchestras | Concert Orchestra | Grade 6 + | Open to all |
| Intermediate Orchestra | Grades 4 – 6 | Open to all | |
| String Orchestra | Grades 1 – 4 | Open to all | |
| Bands | Concert Band | Grade 6 + | Open to all |
| Wind Band | Grades 4 – 6 | Open to all | |
| Training Wind Band | Grades 1 – 4 | Open to all | |
| Ensembles | Swing Band | Invitation | |
| Junior Jazz Group | Invitation | ||
| Brass Ensemble | Invitation | ||
| Clarinet Ensemble | Invitation | ||
| Flute Choir | Invitation | ||
| Percussion Ensemble | Invitation | ||
| Cello/Bass Ensemble | Invitation | ||
| Horn Ensemble | Invitation | ||
| Saxophone Ensemble | Invitation | ||
| Tabla Ensemble | Invitation | ||
| Guitar Ensembles | Invitation | ||
| Double Reed Ensemble | Invitation | ||
| Brass Ensemble | Invitation | ||
| Chamber Music | String Quartets | Invitation | |
| Choirs | School Choir | Audition | |
| Barbershop Group | Invitation | ||
| Theory | Invitation | ||
| Aural Training | Invitation | ||
Enrichment activities outside school
Many boys also take part in music at a high level outside school, and this is encouraged and celebrated. We have pupils in the following groups:
- The National Youth Orchestra
- The National Youth Choir
- Birmingham Music Service Orchestras, Bands and Choir
- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Youth Orchestra
- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Choirs
- City of Birmingham Choir
- Birmingham Cathedral Choir
- Solihull Parish Church Choir
- Solihull Music Service: Orchestras, Bands and Choir
- Redditch Music Service: Orchestras & Bands.
- Sandwell Music Service: Orchestras & Bands
Camp Hill has a busy concert schedule
Concerts and musical events are held both in and out of school. Here is a list of some of the events that took place in the last few years:
- Chamber Concert in the School Hall
- Christmas Concert (School Hall)
- School Carol Service in All Saint’s Parish Church, King’s Heath
- Carol Service for local Old Folks’ Party at Hazelwell Hub
- School Choir sings with The Midlands Hospital Choir (charity event)
- School Choir sings carols at the QE Hospital
- The whole of Year 7 attend a concert by the CBSO in Symphony Hall
- Concert Orchestra performs in Birmingham Cathedral
- Teatime Concert (Junior Ensembles and soloists)
- Musical All the King’s Men (Richard Rodney Bennett) with Captain Noah and his Floating Zoo (3 nights)
- Senior Concert (featuring our Year 13 leavers)
- Summer Soiree (Junior and Intermediate Ensembles)
- Solo and Chamber performances in assemblies
- Performances at the GCSE Presentation Evenings
- Solo and ensemble performances at Prizegiving
- CHAOS (Camp Hill Amateur Operatic Society) Staff Performances
Camp Hill has an excellent reputation for the quality of its drama, and every two years presents a musical for an afternoon matinée and four evening performances. Productions have included West Side Story, Grease, Guys and Dolls, Bugsy Malone, The Boyfriend, Oliver, Oklahoma, Les Misérables, Sweeney Todd, Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, Me and My Girl, The Hollow Crown and Oh, what a lovely war!