Music Programme

The Music Department at Wilson’s is exceptional and has been described as one of the very best in the UK. Teaching in the department is outstanding and delivered by very highly-qualified teachers; there is a very rich co-curricular programme for pupils of all abilities.

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Lessons are practical and creative at all key stages and pupils are taught in small classes. Examination results at GCSE and A level are very strong (100% A* at A level in both 2020 and 2022), and a considerable number of students have continued to study music at university beyond Wilson’s over recent years, including at Oxford and Cambridge (two places for Music in 2021 and two choral scholarships in 2022) as well as other excellent universities and music colleges.

Pupils at Wilson’s are able to join a large range of ensembles to match their experience and enthusiasm, with senior students playing more challenging repertoire in the Senior Wilson’s School Symphony Orchestra, Senior Wind Band, String Sinfonia, Odyssey Big Band, and Chamber Wind Ensembles. Over 100 boys sing in the school choir. During a normal school year, we host well over thirty-five concerts, recitals, productions and other musical events.

The department offers free specialist tuition in voice or a musical instrument to every pupil in Year 7. All pupils start a new instrument as part of the programme and the instruments and equipment are provided free of charge to pupils. Many students continue to play their instruments beyond Year 7 and they prove to be enthusiastic and accomplished members of our various ensembles. Pupils who have started learning in Year 7 have obtained places at music colleges as well as Oxbridge choral scholarships.

The department is led by Dr Hayley Burton, a graduate of King’s College London and Harvard University. She is assisted by Dr Mark Clayden, who studied at the Universities of Surrey and Nottingham, as well as University College, Oxford, where he received his DPhil. Like Dr Clayden, our choral director and Teacher of Music, Mr Chris Hann, joined the school in 2011. Mr Hann has also recently been made an Associate of The Royal Academy of Music, where he works as an Ensemble Tutor. Mr Karl Kramer joined the department in 2022. Mr Kramer coordinates the Year 7 Instrumental Programme and specialises in pop and jazz, directing several ensembles. Mr Tim Lissimore, Senior Deputy Head, also teaches in the department along with over 20 a considerable team of peripatetic staff.

In January 2023, the Britton Centre, the new home of the Music Department was opened, and the building has been buzzing with musical activity ever since. The Britton Centre houses a recital hall, home to two grand pianos, a harpsichord and a battery of professional percussion instruments, a recording studio, three large classrooms, each equipped with computers for composition, a piano and a drumkit, and many new practice rooms, all professionally sound-proofed.