Related Articles
Known as the Music School, the new multi-million pound facilities also feature an additional Recital Hall, a dedicated Song Room for choral rehearsals, 26 music practice rooms, and state-of-the-art classrooms.
Sophie, The Duchess of Edinburgh, who is married to Prince Edward, officially opened the private school’s new Music School on Sunday, at a special concert featuring two new pieces jointly composed by leading contemporary composer Cecilia McDowall, working with eight pupils.
READ MORE: Thug who strangled woman avoids jail
The multi-million-pound new building marks the completion of a 10-year programme linked to Radley College’s expansion to 770 pupils
A professional recording studio enables pupils to record and produce their own work, while flexible rehearsal spaces support the college’s busy programme of ensembles and performances.
About 580 music lessons take place every week at Radley, with nearly half of the boys taking singing or instrumental lessons.
The refurbished Silk Hall Concert Hall has also held two sell-out performances, the first featured acclaimed woodwind player Giacomo Smith, and the second renowned concert pianist Sir Stephen Hough.
The warden of Radley College, John Moule, said: “Music is about the people far more than the building they play in.
“But the time and resource we have dedicated to this stunning new Music School represents all that is good about education
“To teach skills for life through music, creativity through composition, collaboration though ensemble, discipline through practice and confidence through performance.
“In a school which cares about beauty, emotion, collegiality and culture, music has to be at the centre of what we do. Emphatically, at Radley College it is.”
The new building will also serve the local community.
Radley College leads Music Flood, a partnership with Abingdon Music Centre, Thames Vale Youth Orchestra and 17 local schools with the aim of putting music in every school, every day.
The new Music School has already hosted two Music Flood Orchestra events and will welcome hundreds of children from across local primary schools today for the Big Sing.
Radley’s director of music Sam Gladstone said: “It has been incredible to see the impact that such an inspiring building has already had on our young musicians, at all levels of ability.
“Aside from a series of thrilling performances, the building has been full of music every day from pupils excited to practise individually, rehearse in groups or explore our wonderful new recording facilities.
“Just as exciting has been to see hundreds of musicians from across our Music Flood partnership performing in the stunning new performance spaces, making music alongside Radley’s own pupils and some remarkable visiting professional performers.”
The opening concert launched a year-long season of solo competitions, concerto performances and informal concerts that will showcase the new building and the emphasis on music at Radley.
The Music Room project involved two and a half years of planning and design, 18 months of construction, and 100,000 hours of labour.
Founded 179 years ago, Radley College near Abingdon is a leading boarding school for boys aged 13 to 18.
Former pupils include radio presenter and entrepreneur Jamie Laing, who appeared in the Channel 4 Made in Chelsea reality TV show for a number of seasons, and former England cricket captain Andrew Strauss.
Radley College was named as Tatler’s Best Public School in 2024. It dedicated £3.9m to its expanding bursary offer over the past year.
