Once again we have passed the point in the school year where it is time to bid some of the older students a fond farewell as they leave school and head out into the wider world.
For me, this year was a particularly poignant one. The seven girls leaving this year have been stalwart members of the vocal department from the very beginning of their school careers, and I have taught several of them for their whole time at the school.
I consider it a huge privilege of my job to be able to watch my students grow from slightly nervous but excited young girls into the talented, and confident young women who take the lead in all aspects of school life. It is therefore always with a mixture of huge pride, and a little sadness that I prepare for their departure each July. Whilst every year touches me, there are inevitably some who have a greater impact than others, and leave a bigger void in their wake. I know that this year group will be much missed by the whole school community, and not just the musicians!
As has become tradition, I took these girls, along with a number of other singers from year 11 upwards to perform at my old University College, St Peter’s on the final day of term. I am lucky to have students who are passionate enough about their singing to agree to give up precious holiday time to rehearse and perform in these concerts, especially as the end of the school term is always fraught and filled with other events!
As I had such a significant cohort of upper sixth it seemed appropriate to send them off in style. Whilst searching for something which allowed me to sum up all I wanted to say to them, I looked back at old concert programmes from their time at the school. We talked about some options for ‘favourite finishers’, including ‘Homeward Bound’, but in the end they chose to sing a celtic song ‘The Parting Glass’. This had been selected by me as the final song in a number of concerts in previous years, but none of the girls had sung it for a while. I learned it from an American group called ‘The Wailin’ Jennys.’ It was such a joy to me that it meant so much to them that they wanted to ‘resurrect it’ and to make it the final thing that the whole group would all sing together.
Meanwhile, my husband had been listening to an album which we recently purchased and suggested another song which might be suitably poignant for the leavers to sing. Initially I considered singing it to them at the concert, but in the end decided to arrange it for these seven girls to sing together. The song was originally written by Scott Murray, a musician who worked with a group of homeless men who had found shelter in a hostel together. Scott formed a choir to help the men improve their self esteem and give them a sense of belonging. Most importantly, he gave them a voice. The recording I used was made by Roy Bailey, and I felt the message was appropriate for these girls as they go out into the world too.
The girls sang magnificently, and held back the tears until the very end of the Parting Glass. It was lovely to see them supported by the girls who will still be at the school next year, and the camaraderie between all the girls as they sang together.
After the concert the leavers, their parents, and I went for a meal together to celebrate the end of their school singing careers. Whilst we ate, the girls reminisced about their memories of singing at SHSK, and I was struck not only by the wealth and variety of achievements they had between them, but also by the common bonds which held this group together. It was particularly touching to hear one of them comment that without singing, she may well never have got to know the girls who have become her closest friends.
What an amazing power music has: to draw us together into common experiences, to allow us to express our deepest emotions, to give us strength and hope, and to leave indelible marks on our lives.
I have no doubt that this year’s leavers will go on to great and wonderful things, and I hope that the experiences which they have shared through singing so far continue to be a source of happy memories for them. I very much look forward to hearing of their future successes, and hope that music will always bring them a sense of community and happiness. What more could a teacher ask for?
The text for both songs is below:
The Parting Glass:
Oh all the money that e’er I spent,
I spent it in good company.
And all the harm that e’er I’ve done,
Alas it was to none but me.
And all I’ve done, for want of witTo memory now I can’t recall,
So fill to me the Parting Glass,
Good night and joy be with you all.
Oh, all the comrades that e’er I’ve had
Are sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e’er I’ve had
Would wish me one more day to stay.
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise, and you should not,
I’ll gently rise, and I’ll softly call
“Good night, and joy be with you all”.
I Thought I Had no Voice (Fellowship in Song)
We’ve had good times together,
We’ve shared a song or two,
In warmer days of summer,
And winter’s days of snow.
We know that life’s not easy,
The road is hard and long
But music aye can cheer us,
We’re better for a song.
I thought I had no voice,
Now listen to my song
The fellowship of music,
A place where I belong.
We raise our voice in song,
In ev’ry verse and chorus,
Many songs behind us now,
As many waiting for us.
Our time is nearly over,
These days are nearly done,
The tunes we will remember,
The songs will still be sung.
I hope the sun shines for you,
And that we’ll meet again,
For there’s a bond between us,
A bond that has no end.
I thought I had no voice,
Now listen to my song
The fellowship of music,
A place where I belong.
We raise our voice in song,
In ev’ry verse and chorus,
Many songs behind us now,
As many waiting for us.