Jazz and Swing

Jazz is very strong at Sherborne. The Swing Band, essentially a 22 piece "big band" of the Ellington/Basie tradition, has an enviable reputation both locally and further afield. In 2008 the swing band toured Grenada and in the summer of 2010 the band visited St Lucia for a 10-day concert tour. In July 2012 the Swing Band will be performing in Barbados for two weeks. Membership of the band is by audition: places are highly sought and the competition is strong. Most members of the swing band have reached approximately ABRSM grade 7 standard before joining the group. Two occasions in the School diary, "Swing Band All Stars" and "Dinner and Jazz" sell out very quickly and are popular events.

The jazz band is an eight piece band (clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, piano, bass, drums) which performs jazz from the bebop era and beyond. Recent performances have included "So what" from "Kind of blue" (Miles Davis) and "Where's North?" (David Roper), though much of the repertoire is freshly written by Anthony Ingle who coaches the band in weekly visits from London. Membership of the band is highly competitive and it is much in demand at wedding receptions and other functions and events.

The Swing Band on tour in St Lucia, July 2010