Music

We believe passionately in fostering a love of music and performing in all pupils. Opportunities to perform are frequent and the standards of music-making achieved are consistently impressive.

We also readily embrace all ‘good’ music and there is always a rich musical diversity within programmes. Almost everyone, at some time, will derive pleasure from some form of music or another - choral, orchestral, jazz, rock or pop. We aim to give as many pupils as possible the opportunity to partake in the rich musical life on offer here at the School, including our partnership with Southern Sinfonia which you can read about below. The music department is a vibrant hub with constant activity, sounds and energy – there is always someone singing or a small group rehearsing and performing – just for fun. It is a tremendous place to be!

Southern Sinfonia launches new season and announces residency at Wellington School 

Southern Sinfonia, the South West’s only professional orchestra, opens its 2025–26 season with a concert at Wellington School’s Great Hall on Friday 14 November at 7pm. The concert also marks the first appearance of the orchestra’s new Music Director, John Warner, and the start of a major new partnership between Southern Sinfonia and Wellington School. 

The programme brings together Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture, Mozart’s effervescent Figaro Overture, Haydn’s grand London Symphony (No. 104), and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23. The soloist is Hannah Yap, winner of Taunton Young Musician of the Year, performing with Southern Sinfonia for the first time. 

The concert launches a new educational residency at Wellington School, through which Southern Sinfonia will offer side-by-side opportunities for young musicians, chamber music and conducting masterclasses, composition workshops, early years projects and more. The residency aims to benefit not only Wellington’s pupils but also students from state schools and across the wider Somerset and Devon communities. 

Commenting on the residency, John Warner said: 

“It’s a real privilege to begin my tenure with Southern Sinfonia in Somerset, working with an orchestra I greatly admire and in partnership with a school that is so committed to music. Our aim is to inspire children of all backgrounds to experience orchestral music up-close, and to support the next generation of young musicians in the region.” 

Gareth Dayus-Jones, Director of Music at Wellington School, added: 

“We are thrilled to welcome Southern Sinfonia in this educational residency. This partnership will give our pupils - and those from local schools - extraordinary opportunities to learn directly from professional musicians. It is a truly exciting development for music in the area.”