Taylorian 2020

19 schools in an international competition, and Willem Redman brought home our first Gold medal. And then there are the clubs. On Thursdays, pupils enjoy an after-school kayak club in the school pool and the Lee Valley White Water Centre, whilst others participate in a ski racing club on a dry ski slope. Yet more are involved in a wakeboard and water- skiing club at Denham Waterski Club. All of that sounds exhausting, but it hasn’t prevented the boys and staff from also throwing themselves into the Duke of Edinburgh programme. This year, 80 boys started Bronze, 20 Silver and 20 Gold. Of course, the lockdown has had an impact - all expeditions have been cancelled for the time being.However, that hasn’t slowedus down. Some boys have switched their physical, skill and volunteering opportunities to a wider variety of activities tailored to fit the lockdown and social distancing conditions. Over the past year, seven OMTs completed their Gold Award. We continue to support all who begin their Award at MTS until they reach 25 years old. Many of the Gold Award recipients go on to finish their award whilst at university. If our pupils have impressed with their engagement with outdoor pursuits, they have been even more effective in Drama. Sixth Formers have continued to enjoy success in Modern Foreign Languages at the annual Independent Schools’ French Drama Competition at King Alfred School. After last year, where MTS boys won the coveted award of Best Play for their interpretation of La Vérité by Florian Zeller, Adam Haffar and Emilio Rimini performed an extract fromLe Père (also byZeller) in the final week before lockdown. In a performance of great sensitivity the boys gave an outstandingly controlled display, Adam being rewarded with the award for Best Actor. Chapeau! The House Drama Competition took place in October. There was a hotly contested finals evening consisting of high-quality, original and thought-provoking theatre. Manor of the Rose won the coveted House Drama Trophy and we were delighted to award new prizes for direction, acting and contribution to the rehearsal process. However, the indisputable dramatic highlight of the year was the superb production of Les Misérables in November. To give a flavour of the reception it received, I would like to share just some of the comments made by parents sent in to Miss Clarke: ‘It was a brilliant show! We were blown away by the performance of the students and also of the big collaboration of all the various “departments” who together put on something which was beyond all expectations.’ ‘Outstandingly well produced, never seen anything like it before!’ ‘Wow! Still getting over last night’s incredible performance. By a million miles, that was the best show I’ve seen at MTS in all my time.’ ‘WOW! WOW! That was an exceptional evening and wonderful first performance tonight.’ ‘In all the years I don’t think I have ever been quite so spell-bound. Words, choreography, staging and casting; brilliant, absolutely brilliant. And deeply moving.’ ‘The singing, music, performances and production values were all outstanding. Bravo! It was a tremendous production.’ ‘What a fantastic performance! Hooked from start to finish, simply blown away and barely had a dry eye.’ ‘Lots of verve and energy - exciting – kids very on target. Super professional.’ ‘The show last night was spectacular…. really doing justice to the school and your efforts. It was as good as the West End version - if not even better.’ ‘We just wanted to say ‘What a fantastic show’, thank you for all your hard work & I’m sure patience during the past 3 months. I heard so many say it was up there along with West End shows, very professional. A big thank you to everyone involved.’ ‘A memorable event which made me feel incredibly proud.’ ‘It was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen in my life. I was a bit sceptical as to whether it would be as good is this was. An absolutely amazing, amazing job tonight.’ ‘What a sensational evening’s entertainment. Congratulations to you, the cast and crew for an outstanding Les Mis production. We very much enjoyed the whole evening.’ ‘Congratulations on an excellent performance of Les Misérables last night. It was captivating for the audience and remarkable to see how well the MTS and St Helen’s students acted and sang. They all seemed to enjoy themselves so much.’ ‘It was a huge pleasure to be part of something that brought so much joy to so many people.’ ‘It was utterly amazing and definitely worthy of the standing ovation. A memorable evening.’ ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your hard work and expertise and for giving so many of us so much pure joy to talk about for years and years to come.’ The lead roles were taken by Daniel Odejinmi as JeanValjean andHarrison Robb as Javert. Both were remarkably assured as performers and as singers. Convincing and captivating, they evoked the full range of emotions, and led an ensemble cast of exceptional depth. All impressed, but the show was indisputably stolen by a brilliant performance by Jo Rich as Thenardier. None who saw the production will forget it – it lives as one of the dramatic highlights of recent MTS drama. Music, as one might expect after an account of a wonderful piece of musical theatre, is also thriving. Following a successful Chamber Choir tour to Italy last July which included singing in St Mark’s Basilica in Venice, the Music Department began what was to have been the busiest year yet with the inaugural Leading Notes Summer Jazz Course in August. It was hugely successful, with many members of the MTS jazz bands at Merchant Taylors’ honing their improvising chops in masterclasses run by two of the UK’s top session players, who just happen to count among the team of visiting music teachers at School. Shortly after the start of term, the new Music Scholars enjoyed their first foray with the rest of the Music Scholars to