THE BROOKSBANK ARTHAUS MAGAZINE | ISSUE SIX 2016

Experimental artists excel

THE BROOKSBANK ARTHAUS MAGAZINE | ISSUE 6 | 2016

A number of Year 6 primary school more able pupils were invited to the arthaus to take part in a series of Art workshops. The workshops allowed students to explore the theme of growth using a range of mediums including printing, photography and drawing.

Mr Barrett and sixth former, Laura Neimantas, led a photography masterclass where students began by taking a self-portrait and then used photo-editing software to change the image. Image overlays and other techniques were used to create these digital art masterpieces.

Jake Attree, a very familiar face to Brooksbank, led a drawing skills workshop which focused on reproducing landscapes outside the arthaus. Jake also took the young artists on a journey through his personal sketchbook, explaining many of the techniques he used along the way. The sun-drenched fields up towards Blackley provided dry-stone walls, cottages and sheep to interpret in their own unique way.

Mrs Hughes and sixth formers, Charlotte Dixon and Maria Gomez, demonstrated different types of print making. Working with Brusho ink and shaving foam (a favourite messy combo!) students created vivid abstract patterns and overlaid them with mono and lino prints to create some outstanding results!

Pupils returned to Brooksbank to see their work in an exhibition in the arthaus and were rewarded with prizes by Headteacher, Mr McCallion and Deputy Head, Mrs Shutter.

THE BROOKSBANK ARTHAUS MAGAZINE | ISSUE 6 | 2016

Rotary’s Young Musician of theYear heats up

and John Denver’s, ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’. After a classical piece, Henry Foulkes sang the finger-clicking ‘Only Sixteen’. Joe Jamookeeah sang the moving ‘Bring Him Home’ from the West End smash hit ‘Les Miserables’. Connor Fahey strummed ‘I See Fire’ on guitar before taking to the piano to play ‘Feeling Good’. Charley Custance sang and then performed a classical melody on piano. Adam Crowther showcased two of his own songs. Isabelle Morse played the flute with piano accompaniment; Ben Riley finger-picked his way through two grade 8 classical guitar pieces and finally Baritone player, Lucas Metcalfe performed ‘We’re Off to see the Wizard’ and ‘If I Was a Rich Man’.

The adjudicators were highly impressed with the quality and sound of the performances and delivered their congratulations and feedback to all those who competed. Our congratulations go to Connor Fahey and Lucas Metcalfe, who were selected to go through to next round. We can’t wait to hear how they get on in York next year!

The Rotary Young Musician of the Year Competition has got off to a flying start! This is the second time that Brooksbank has hosted one of the first heats of this well-established national competition. Promoted and run by Rotary International, it has four stages and is designed to support and encourage the development of young musical talent. At the end first heat, two students are chosen to go through to the next round in York, in 2016.

Two guest adjudicators joined us for the event to choose two out of the nine competitors; Robert Guy, Principal Conductor of the Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra and Daniel Roberts, organist and vocal master.

First up was Erin Fairhurst, who played guitar and sang two beautiful renditions: Eva Cassidy’s, ‘Songbird’

Over the years, Splendid Productions have visited Brooksbank to deliver many workshops, but this time, they were going to stage a play in the arthaus studio. ‘Splendid’ stopped off at Brooksbank on their UK tour to perform their brand new adaptation of Homer’s epic adventure, ‘Odyssey’ before an audience of Sixth Form Theatre Studies students. Splendid Productions is a theatre company and an education company who create challenging, vibrant theatre for young people.

Featuring a multi-talented, multi-rolling cast of just three members, ‘Splendid’s ‘Odyssey’ retold the classic in a vibrant and funny way. Brechtian-style episodic structure, physical theatre, clowning, audience interaction and puppetry all featured in this startlingly engaging adaptation. Group discussions afterwards gave students their chance to quiz the cast and unpick every detail.

A SplendidProduction!

Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks!

Brooksbank was proud to be part of The Shakespeare Schools’ Festival recently at the Victoria Theatre, Halifax. Brooksbank had chosen to perform one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies: ‘King Lear’. “Brooksbank has been a part of this festival for many years now and it’s fantastic that we are going to grace the stage once again to perform another Shakespearean classic,” said director and Drama teacher, Mr Ashall.

The Festival is the largest of its kind, in the UK, and aims to give students the opportunity to explore and perform Shakespeare in a professional theatre. With months of rehearsing this tense masterpiece had to be just right! There were many familiar Brooksbankers in the cast, including: Toby Rogan (who stormed the stage with his portrayal of Lear, Emmy Dyson, Charlotte Codd and Emily Locke (Lear’s daughters) and Adam Crowther (who played the evil, Edmund).

The performance at the Victoria Theatre was outstanding and the festival organisers were very impressed with the way this play was performed. Huge congratulations go out to Toby, who received special comments from the organisers on how well he had delivered this challenging role. Well done, Toby!

Many of the performers have landing leading roles in Brooksbank’s next school production, ‘Our House’, which will hit the main school stage in February.

Christmas trees, street lamps, and red velvet trimmings – the scene was set for our Christmas concert! And what a show it was! ‘Deck the Concert Hall!’ was a Christmas stocking brimming with Brooksbank gifts!

Leading the way from the comfort of their plush settee were Sixth Form fuddy-duddies, Josh Bean and Nick Raw - think Les Dawson and Winston Churchill. This comedy double-act had all the banter of comedians who had pulled more than a few Christmas crackers – judging by their jokes!

The first half was packed with cheerful Christmas musical delights and funny ditties beginning with our Brass Quartet who performed ‘A Rocking Christmas’, followed by the Concert Band’s ‘The Twelve Days Of Christmas’. Both groups set the bar high. The String Ensemble succeeded in upping the ante with ‘Deck the Halls’ and ‘The Hunt’, spreading a Christmassy spirit throughout the auditorium.

Charming soloist Hattie Butterworth (11R) stepped up to perform a beautiful rendition of ‘Half The world Away’ set

against a magical, video snow globe backdrop. Ruby Duncan (7U) followed with her sweetly rendered version of ‘The Christmas Song’. As the interval approached, our Chamber Choir and the Year 7 Musicianship Project thrilled the audience with ‘Carol of the Bells’ and Rock School finalised part one with a rocked-up blast of ‘Rudolph’. Wow! What a first half!

With tummies full of festive interval treats, it was time to settle back down and enjoy the second act of ‘Deck the Concert Hall!’

We all know that Brooksbank is home to several brass ensembles and it was great to see them all on stage together! Brooksbank Blasts! Sovereign and Prestige blew a stocking-full of traditional tunes and carols, while the Intermediate Brass Ensemble treated us to ‘Winter Wonderland’ and the

Deck theConcert Hall!

Senior Band stole a march with a military ‘Christmas Carol March’ and ‘Jingle Bell Boogie’.

We returned to fun and games with Sixth Form comedians, Jessica White-Travis and Connor Fahey confidently pushing the comedy button with their inspired ‘Nativity First Rehearsal’. Playing teachers trying to make sense of a primary nativity play rehearsal, they struggled to bring order to some of their more wayward youngsters, who included Tupak, Hashtag and, of course, Kevin! A revival of Monty Python’s hilarious ‘Cha Cha Cha’ sketch pressed it again when three ‘naked’ Sixth Formers, Chris Rhodes, Josh Bean and Nick Raw, cheekily tried to protect their modesty. Great comedy timing, boys!

Able Joshua Handscomb (8D) showed his mastery of the clarinet with a delightfully breezy, ‘Walking in the Air’

from ‘The Snowman’. Then the Concert Band returned to play that Christmas movie favourite, ‘Somewhere in My Memory’, from ‘Home Alone’. Henry Foulkes (11Y) and Georgia Mather-Ives (11A) charmed and amused us with that timeless duet, ‘Baby, it’s Cold Outside’.

There was just one more gift to pluck from this Santa’s sack of festive delights. The entire cast returned to the stage to take their bows and deliver a parting gift; a glowing rendition of arguably the most famous Christmas song of all time, that old-fashioned favourite by Irving Berlin, ‘White Christmas’.

What a magical conclusion to an amazing year of performance at Brooksbank. Well done to everyone for pulling this talent-filled, Christmas cracker!

Our friends, the Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra, joined us once again to present an open live rehearsal. Live rehearsals, where the audience can witness the journey of a piece of music from stave to stage, are becoming an increasingly popular event at Brooksbank. On this occasion, some had travelled from Manchester, arrived early to see conductor, Robert Guy, wave his magic baton.

From stave to stageRehearsing extracts from Tchaikovsky’s ‘1812 Overture’ and ‘Symphony No 5’ with some Dvorak thrown in proved a treat – especially for those who sat in among the musicians. Robert also excelled at guiding the audience through the programme of music. If you are interested in seeing a live rehearsal, we are delighted to announce that the Phil’ will be back with us in February – to perform a full concert programme.

THE BROOKSBANK ARTHAUS MAGAZINE | ISSUE 6 | 2016

Artist and former Brooksbank student Danielle Whitaker, has taken up a twelve-month residency at the school. Danielle has been commissioned to develop dark room projects in the arthaus – a special focus of hers. Danielle will introduce students to the mysterious and magical world of Chemigrams, using darkroom equipment and techniques. She is also

charged with nurturing the talents of small groups of art students, to enhance their learning and skills.

Describing her work, Danielle says, “My practice stems from an interest in the chemical reactions that take place within alternative darkroom photography. I aim to demonstrate the cellular biological and interstellar qualities found in the techniques. From working in the darkroom, I am able to create collections of Chemigrams where I am able to illustrate both characteristics.”

Danielle graduated from the Leeds College of Art and, following a successful Degree show, was selected to be a part of the Aon Community Art Award. The Award was created to coincide with the opening of Aon’s new global headquarters. The visually stunning, 737 ft tall Leadenhall Building is also known as the Cheesegrater and is located in Central London. Two of Danielle’s pieces, Chemigram I and Chemigram II proudly grace the walls of the magnificent structure.

Artist in Residence

Year 11 Art Workshops

Our HouseYear 9 Art Exhibition Peter Brook Art Prize

Music For Youth

Theatre Studies PlaysMusic Showcase

January - April 2016 Diary

JanuaryTuesday 12th, Tuesday 19th

FebruaryTuesday 9th - Thursday 11th

Thursday 25th - Monday 7th MarchSaturday 27th - Saturday 9th April

MarchSaturday 19th - Sunday 20th

April Monday 18th - Friday 22nd

Friday 19th

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www.bbs.calderdale.sch.uk