After a three-year absence, our annual Battle of the Bands competition is making a comeback and Harrodian rock and pop star wannabees are invited to take to the stage!
Since it was inaugurated in 2008, Harrodian's Battle of the Bands (BoB) has been a hugely popular event in the school calendar. The Theatre echoes to the sound of original contemporary music of all kinds as young musicians, from singer songwriters to rock bands, compete for the 'Silver Stratocaster' trophy awarded to the winners of the competition in both Band and Soloist categories.
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What is it that has made BoB a Harrodian institution that pupils adore? Director of Music Hannah Ashe believes the contest offers Harrodians of all ages a different and unique way to express themselves. ‘We are one of very few schools that actually ask our pupils to write and compose their own songs,’ she says. ‘Our pupils love this challenge but also the chance to showcase their creativity.’
We are one of very few schools that actually ask our pupils to write and compose their own songs. Our pupils love this challenge but also the chance to showcase their creativity
Director of Music Hannah Ashe
Perhaps just as important to its success is the aura of professionalism that surrounds the event. Former parent, John Giddings, and man behind the revival of the Isle of Wight (IoW) Festival will be returning again this year for the twelfth time as chairman of the judges with a team of seasoned music professionals on his panel.
The prize on offer to the winners is also clearly a serious incentive for any young musician keen to make his or her mark in the industry - they are awarded the opportunity to play at the IoW Festival, courtesy of Mr Giddings.
The last time the competition took place was in February 2019. Sasha, who was in the 15s at the time and has since left Harrodian after completing her A Levels, won the soloist category for her song Away which she sang while accompanying herself on the piano. All-girl ukulele group Prime – Romy, Eliza, and Grace (now Head Girl) who were in the 13s at the time – won the band prize with their song Without You. They are photographed below with Head Judge John Giddings on the left and fellow judges singer/songwriter Rothwell and Matt Tuck, lead singer of Welsh heavy metal band Bullet for My Valentine.
This year's competition will now be taking place on Thursday 27 April. The judges for this year's Battle of the Bands competition are John Giddings (music agent, promoter and Isle of Wight Festival, Charly Beedell-Tuck (music agent), Megan McKenna (Big Brother, TOWIE tv star turned country singer - winner of celebrity X Factor in 2019) and Jamie Oborne (manager of The 1975 )
From 2020 onwards and during the pandemic, events like BoB were cancelled and performance opportunities limited. Hannah Ashe and her team were determined to find other ways for Harrodians to showcase their musical talents. One of these ideas evolved into a special Harrodian songwriting competition. Pupils in the 11s upwards were invited to take part by writing and composing their own songs (either as soloists or in pairs) and to submit video recordings of their performances. To get a flavour of Harrodian's musical talent in advance of the BoB competition, you can listen/watch the winners of the 2021 and 2022 songwriting competition by clicking on the link below:
Overall winner 2021: Harry (13s, now in the 15s) 'What's going on?' - video link below
Overall winner 2022: Georgia and Ethan (13s, now in the 14s) 'Caught In A Loop'
Although the songwriting competition was introduced as a temporary replacement for the Battle of the Bands, there is such a good appetite for musical creativity and performance that the Music department hopes to make this a permanent music fixture in the calendar too. Either way, there is no doubting the abundance of musical talent and output at Harrodian.