Perhaps the biggest new development in the Music Department this year has been the launch of the Oxford Children’s Chamber Orchestra (OCCO), based on our original school orchestra. As part of this initiative, we have opened up our Saturday morning music programme to children from beyond Savile Road: boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 13. In addition to the orchestra, the Saturday programme offers coaching in chamber music and composition, alongside teaching the ABRSM Music Theory syllabus. In its first year, the OCCO programme has seen some 56 children from across the city gather together to make music each Saturday. 

The first concert took place on 9 December: at the heart of the programme was a gripping performance of Mozart’s Symphony No. 22 in C major (K. 162), under Tom Neal’s direction. A string quartet (Jacob, Andrew, Henry, and Herbie) performed the energetic Scherzo from Haydn’s String Quartet in G (Op.33, no.5). Another quartet (William, Martha, Bessie, and Magdalena) gave a rhythmic and ebullient performance a Minuet and Trio by Mozart. A third quartet (Ethan, Annie, Thomas, and Yoav) gave a mature and carefully considered interpretation of the Minuet alla zingarese from Haydn’s String Quartet in D (Op. 20, no.4), before a piano trio (Valeria, Miuccia, and Jack) gave a stunning rendition of Mit innigem Ausdruk from Schumman’s six canonic studies, transcribed by Theodo Kirchner. It was a wonderful concert! 

At the time of writing, OCCO is preparing for its second concert, a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony no.5, alongside chamber music by Vivaldi, Haydn, Respighi, and Satie. We look forward to next year’s programme, and are sure that OCCO will go from strength to strength.