School of Rock (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

School of Rock

9:25am Monday 19th February 2007 in Swindon By Gazette Reporter

Would-be rock and pop stars, bands and classical musicians showed off their talent at The Commonweal School this week.

Students from the school in Old Town competed in three categories in the music competition.

The cream of the school's musicians performed for hundreds of parents, friends and pupils in the grand finale of the contest.

More than 100 pupils fought for the 12 places in the final, with heats during lunchtimes and after school over the last couple of months.

A panel of judges, made up of teachers and professional musicians, picked trumpet player Tom Thorpe as the best classical performer.

Vocalist Corine Conway won the X-Factor-style category and The Alfonz were the champions of the battle of the bands.

advertisement The school's community arts development officer Josie Williams said: "It was a fantastic evening.

"The professional judges said they were really impressed with the standard of the students.Tom Thorpe plays the trumpet "I think Corine Conway is going to be one to watch out for in the future.

"And The Alfonz are just cracking.

"It started all dark and when the back lights came on and the music came on it was very atmospheric.

"By the end, when the bands got on stage, all the young girls were dancing down the front and screaming for them, so I'm pretty sure they enjoyed themselves.

"We have had a new music department since September who have been great at encouraging all this talent.

"And we'll be working with them, developing their performing skills so they can hopefully keep on and be successful with their music in the future."

ln December the school released Now That's What I Call Commonweal, which featured both pupils' original pop and rock songs, and also a contribution from headteacher Keith Defter.