The aim of the Department is to make music available to all students at the school and to foster a life-long interest in music-making by encouraging active participation at all levels.

All students in Years 7 and 8 receive weekly class lessons as part of the curriculum.  Work covers singing, listening, percussion and keyboard skills, improvising, composing and theory.  At Year 9 students can opt to follow a GCSE course and beyond that to AS and A2 levels.

In addition to the three main members of the music staff there are some twelve visiting music teachers, providing over 180 individual lessons each week. Timetables for these lessons are e-mailed weekly via ParentMail.

There are many exciting opportunities to take part in ensembles and concerts, both in school, locally, nationally and even abroad!

Please do not hesitate to contact me at the school if you would like any further information.

To keep up to date with even more Music Department news and views, follow POLYPHONY the music department blog

D G House
Director of Music

Below are two downloadable information sheets and an application form for music tuition:

Music Department Information Booklet -
Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme -
Tuition from visiting Music Teachers [Regulations & Conditions] -
Tuition from visiting Music Teachers [Application Form] -

FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Current/Former Choristers (students & staff) - why not keep in touch by joining our CGS Choir Facebook group?

SUMMER CONCERT
Wednesday 26 June 2013, 7pm
Cottrill Hall

Featuring student compositions and items from most of the school music groups. Click here for parents' letter.

SENIOR CHOIR - LUNCHTIME CONCERT
Thursday 18 July 2013, 12 noon
Temple Church, Budleigh Salterton

A lunchtime concert as part of the Budleigh Music Festival

SENIOR CHOIR TOUR 2013
LISBON, PORTUGAL
Thursday 25 - Tuesday 30 July 2013
This year's destination is Lisbon, Portugal's capital city.

Itinerary -

Update Letter Apr 2013 -

Parents' Letter Jan 2013 -

Consent Form -

Participants - please aim to return all paperwork before February half term. Thank you!

RECENT CHOIR TOURS / NEWS / EVENTS

SENIOR CHOIR - ANNUAL SPRING CONCERT
HANDEL'S 'MESSIAH'
Exeter Cathedral, Saturday 20 April 2013

This year, in a first for the school, the Senior Choir's annual spring concert took place in Exeter Cathedral!

The choir of over 170 sang Handel’s great oratorio, Messiah, with a specially assembled orchestra of about 20 semi-professional players and four professional soloists.  We were delighted to welcome back two former students as part of the solo quartet – Daniel Rudge [Baritone - CGS 2006] and Josie Walledge [Soprano – CGS 1990].

CHOIR TOUR 2012 - NORTH EAST ENGLAND
A total of 74 members of the school's Senior Choir stayed for two nights at Twice Brewed Youth Hostel, outside Carlisle, and then for a further two nights in Durham University Halls of Residence.

Informal singing took place in Cartmel Priory on the journey north (no time for sticky toffee pudding though), and then in Carlisle, Newcastle and Durham Cathedrals over the next three days. On the way home we dropped into Tewkesbury Abbey to break our journey, and also for another opportunity to do some informal singing in front of unsuspecting tourists and Abbey staff. A truly great time was had by all - look out for a full write-up from Mr House in the end-of-term Parents' Newsletter.

A gallery of photographs is available to view here

CHOIR TOUR 2011 - BELGIUM
65 members of the school's Senior Choir were based in Ghent and sang at various venues in Ghent, Brussels and Bruges during their summer tour in July 2011.

A gallery of photographs is available to view here

CHOIR TOUR 2010 - ESSEX & KENT
The school's Senior Choir sang in Waltham Abbey, Chelmsford & Canterbury Cathedrals during their annual summer tour in July 2010.

A gallery of photographs is available to view here

CHOIR TOUR 2009 - MALTA
The school's Senior Choir visited Malta from 15-20 July 2009, for its annual choir tour.

A gallery of photographs is available to view here