Music Awards and Prizes
We are fortunate at Cheam to be teaching such a diverse range of talented children. We have excellent musicians who contribute enormously to the musical life of the School.
We fully appreciate the time and effort that the children spend in preparing and sharing their music. As a school community we endeavour to show our appreciation. These children can be rewarded with Credits, Performance Awards (PAs) or if appropriate with Junior Colours, Half Colours or Full Colours for Music. These are important accolades to aspire towards.
At the end of the term and in particular at the end of the academic year, there are a series of prizes that are awarded to suitable candidates. These include:
Best Player of the Piano, Strings, Woodwind, Brass, Percussion
Best Singer
Salver for loyalty to the Choir
Prize for exceptional musical creativity
Best Junior Musician (Years 3-5)
Best Senior Musician (Year 8).
Cheam Music Scholarships
To encourage children within the school and those from outside, we offer a Music Scholarship at the junior end of the school. This is given to someone showing an enthusiasm for music and obvious potential. This award can offer financial assistance towards instrumental lessons and possibly a bursary support for school fees.
We are keen to develop these opportunities and attract talented children to Cheam who might not be able to come without this help.
Scholarships to Public Schools
At the senior end of the school, we often have Year 8 children who aspire to taking Music Scholarships. This is an area that we support and we encourage individual children to think about entering for such awards. We do not talent spot in early years to focus on certain individuals, but prefer to stand back and see which children have something genuine to offer and a real passion for music. These candidates can then be invited by Cheam in Year 7 to put their names forward with our blessing. This in itself is quite an honour and reflects the contribution made by those individuals during their time with us.
We encourage all Music Scholarship candidates to go and play for the Director of Music at their chosen Public School. This is positive all round and helpful feedback is made. With their instrumental teacher’s help, the children work hard to prepare a comprehensive recital on all their instruments (including singing if possible) and perform all their chosen music at the Scholars’ Recitals in the Spring Term. We timetable these just before the candidates go off for their auditions.
Over recent years, pupils from Cheam have been awarded the following Music Scholarships to Public Schools:
2000 Sherborne
2003 Downe House and Abingdon School
2004 Sherborne
2005 Marlborough, St. Mary’s, Calne and Abingdon School
2006 Bryanston and Uppingham
2007 Dean Close and Abingdon School
2008 Pangbourne, Bradfield and Radley
2009 Sherbourne Girls and Wellington
2010 Marlborough, Pangbourne, Wellington, Charter House and Bryanston
2011 Pangbourne, Bradfield and three to Marlborough