We were also thrilled to host Mayor of Corby; Leanne Buckingham, HM Vice Lord-Lieutenant Mrs Morcea Walker MBE, Royal Anglian Regiment County Colonel Robert Blomfield MBE, Brooke Weston Trust’s Chief Executive Officer; Dr. Andrew Campbell and Corby Business Academy Chair of Governors; Mr Niel Aveyard.

Our young musicians and staff had been rehearsing relentlessly for many weeks to present a superb exhibition of music. Soloists included Amelia in Year 12 who is currently pursuing her A level in Music and has been playing the cornet for over 10 years. She has also been our concert band’s principal cornet for the last 3 years. Teacher of Maths; Mr Junior Watson also performed a vocal solo with Year 9 student Michella accompanying him on the clarinet. Principal alto saxophonist Atiya, in Year 11 has been playing the saxophone for over three years and has become an integral part of the concert band.

Year 7 student Kevin, who is already part of the Senior Concert Band playing tuned percussion, is also the pianist in the Big Band. He has very recently passed his associated board grade 5 piano examination with a distinction. Year 11 student Annelies made musical history at Corby Business Academy during the Winter Showcase. She was the first musician to perform a vocal solo whilst accompanying herself on the piano and has been a key part of the vocal ensembles for the last four years.

The evening also featured vocal soloists Scarlett in Year 9, Courtney in Year 10, Ella in Year 13 and Isabella in Year 8. Ella currently studies Music at A level and performed a grade 7 piece from Les Misérables. Ella has also been in the CBA singers since she was in Year 7 and she has since become the co-director of this incredible group. Isabella sang accompanied by the Concert Band and we were in awe of her performance of ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’. Isabella is a voracious musician for she is not only a keen vocalist but she is also a member of the Concert Band and she is learning to play the flute.

Our award-winning CBA singers have enjoyed a very successful 2023. In July, they were one of only ten choirs in the entire country to be invited to perform at the prestigious National Finals of Music for Youth which was held in Birmingham. The CBA singers have also performed in many other festivals of music over the years and performed sets conducted by Mr. Matt Smith. The beauty of the CBA Singers is that this ensemble features students from all year groups who love singing and performing together and rehearse a wide variety of repertoire, from musicals to popular song arrangements, and film music to jazz and choral numbers every week. The smaller ensemble of CBA Harmonies featured senior vocalists from Year 9 and above. This group recently became the proud winners of their ‘class category’ at the 2023 Oundle Music Festival.

Our newly-formed brass ensemble, featuring nineteen students from Year 7 through to Year 13, have already shown great promise this year by performing at various concerts. They performed pieces alongside their Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust (NMPAT) peripatetic brass specialist teacher, Mr Chris Fountain.   

Miss Pam Carter, NMPAT woodwind teacher has been teaching our students for sixteen years. She accompanied her woodwind ensemble of students from Year 8 through to Year 11. This ensemble featured a rich medley of our clarinets, saxophonists and flute players. 

The Junior Concert Band featured the newest members of our Music Department who have been learning to play a plethora of instruments ranging from cornets, trumpets, baritones and trombones to flutes, clarinets, and percussionists. We have high hopes that many from this Concert Band will go up to the Senior Concert Band and further beyond in the years to come because of their hard work and dedication.

Like most of the ensembles at our Academy, the Concert Band have been an extremely busy this year.  In March this spring, the Concert Band took part in the regional festival of Music for Youth held at Northampton School for Girls and they were highly commended for their performance by the Music Mentors there.

In October this Autumn, members of the Concert Band were invited to perform at one of London’s most prestigious venues, The Royal Albert Hall, as part of the Music for Youth Finals.  That outing was truly special and it has become a memory that will last a life time for all those who were part of the ensemble.

The audience also enjoyed performances featuring our award-winning Big Band.  Over the years, the Big Band have not only won numerous competitions but they have also taken part in the National Concert Band Festival and the Festival of Music for Youth. The Big Band was conducted by Mr Brad Turnball from NMPAT who is another one of our excellent Brass teachers at Corby Business Academy. The Big Band were also accompanied by a trio of vocalists; Lucy, Scarlett and Matilda as well as a guitar solo by Emilio in Year 9.

Visitors to the Academy were able to enjoy fruit punch and mince pie refreshments in the interlude whilst viewing some of the fabulous art work on display and created by Corby Business Academy students.

Colonel Blomfield stated, ‘A huge thank you to all concerned for staging what was a thoroughly enjoyable evening of excellent entertainment provided by so many obviously talented pupils. From the two splendid concert bands to the various fine ensembles to the vocal and instrumentalist soloists, who showed such enormous courage in performing in front of a packed auditorium, all provided most impressive performances. Every aspect of the evening spoke volumes not only for all the performers many hours of practice but also for the dedication and unstinting support of the Corby Business Academy staff.’

Mayor Buckingham praised the students commenting, ‘It was a pleasure to attend this years Winter Showcase. It always amazes me to see so many students are taking part in this event. I find it very heartening to know that CBA put so much focus on the creatives. This year there were many who were new musicians. I particularly enjoyed Atiya and her saxophone solo and the CBA Singers version of Flashlight. Their harmonies spoke directly to my soul.’

Vice Lord-Lieutenant expressed, “What a wonderful musical event.  Awe and wonder are two words that describes for me an evening spent with gifted young musicians supported by dedicated staff.  It was clear that such an activity could not have happened without commitment by everyone engaged in it.  Well done!”.

Brooke Weston Trust’s CEO; Dr. Andrew Campbell remarked, ‘Another magical, festive and highly popular evening courtesy of the talented students and dedicated staff at CBA. It’s so wonderful to see how, through brilliant events like this, our school is right at the heart of the community it serves - and with world class talent on show too!’

Well done to all staff and students involved and thank you to all our visitors. We were delighted and much appreciative of the donations received of over £170.00 towards the cost of the refreshments and the evening.

Videos of the evening’s performances can be viewed via our YouTube channel; Corby Business Academy - YouTube.