Piano and Keyboard

The opportunity for pianists to become involved in music at Sherborne is extensive. Benjamin Davey, Assistant Director of Music and Head of Keyboard Studies, provides an annual competition for pianists (the Halliday Cup), coaches chamber music (which in 2011 included two piano trios), and encourages pianists to undertake solo performances in the Friday lunchtime recitals in Cheap Street Church and in major school concerts in the Abbey (including concerto opportunities) and the Big School Room. Since the new Music School opened in July 2010, the school has taken possession of a brand new fleet of twelve upright pianos by Venables & Sons, a magnificent new Yamaha C7 which is installed in the Tindall Recital Hall for recordings and evening concerts, and a Brodmann PE187 grand piano for chamber music and piano teaching. Additionally there are two Yamaha C3 grand pianos purchased in 2006, a Bosendorfer 218, and a Steinway model D which is kept in Cheap Street Church for the weekly Friday lunchtime recitals. Each boarding house also has its own upright piano.

Organists enjoy playing the 2004 Kenneth Tickell organ in the Abbey or the 1985 Blank organ in the school chapel which is currently being rebuilt by Stephen Cooke Organ Builders Ltd for completion early in 2012. Both instruments have tracker action: the specifications are here. Advanced organists have the opportunity to play for school services in the Abbey and there is also a gap year organ scholarship scheme which provides an annual opportunity for a pre-university gap year student to accompany the school choir, and men and boys' choir in the Abbey, on a weekly basis.