Charterhouse

Music Scholarships are generous and competitive and the Director of Music, Mark Shepherd, usually meets prospective Music Scholars and their parents at the outset of their process of choosing a school. (Details of all bursaries and scholarships are available in the Admissions section). Whatever the musical interest of pupils, Charterhouse offers them a stimulating musical environment to help them reach their potential.

Full details of the curriculum are available in the Under School (Years 9-11) Curriculum and Sixth Form Curriculum sections.

To learn more about Music at Charterhouse please view our video below:

Music for Everyone

Music has a long and fine tradition at Charterhouse, and Ralph Vaughan Williams was a pupil in the early days in Godalming. About half the pupils have music lessons, and many participate in other musical activities, like the House Music Festival or the Oratorio Choir.

Pupils regularly perform in ten minute recitals during quarter (the morning break), and there is a host of choirs and ensembles: Chapel Choir, Chamber Choir, Symphony Orchestra, String Orchestra, Jazz Band and Brass Ensemble and Concert Band. Whatever the musical interest of pupils, Charterhouse offers a stimulating environment to help them reach their potential.

 During an academic year, our regularly scheduled musical events include:

Chamber Music at Charterhouse

Chamber music has always been an important part of the Charterhouse musical scene, and many Carthusians pursue it later on in life, as amateurs or professionals. Over the last few years many Charterhouse ensembles have taken part in the National Chamber Music Competition for Schools, and a good number have reached the final concert, which is the platform for the winners of the competition. These samples are taken from a CD comprising recordings of some great chamber works, and represents some recent highlights of Carthusian chamber music-making.

Four movements from Wenlock Edge - Vaughan Williams

Brahms & John Ireland

Music for String Orchestra - Vaughan Williams

Music for String Orchestra of Vaughan Williams was recorded in Charterhouse Chapel.

String Music from Charterhouse

The String Orchestra has been for many years at the centre of a long tradition of string playing at Charterhouse. Concerts include regular appearances at both the School and at St Martin-In-The-Fields in London.

Special thanks to John Parsons for permission to publish these samples. All works are Copyrighted.

400th Anniversary CD

400th Anniversary Special. Robin Wells compiled a varied collection of musical highlights from 40 years at Charterhouse, with some newly discovered gems from Bill Llewellyn’s collection of reel to reel tapes made in the 60s, 70s and 80s.  These archive recordings include Chapel Choir, Chamber Choir, Symphony Orchestra, chamber music, and solo performances from Carthusians who are now well-known musicians. A list of contents is available below:

This Musical Memories CD can be purchased from the School Shop, price £8.00.

The Chamber Orchestra CD

The Chamber Orchestra has released a new CD of popular string music. It was recorded in Chapel over the last two years by a professional recording company, and John Parsons (director of Chamber Orchestra) feels that it is the finest orchestra he has had at the school in his 20 years as Head of Strings here.

The programme includes Benjamin Britten’s Simple Symphony, Holst’s St Paul’s Suite, a movement from  Dvorák’s Serenade for Strings, Barber’s Adagio, and John Ireland’s Concertino Pastorale.

Available (mail order) from School Shop, price £10. Phone or email: 01483 291635. shops@charterhouse.org.uk

Contact Information

To make an appointment to meet Mark Shepherd, Director of Music, please contact Fiona Warburton.

Telephone: +44 (0)1483 291696
Email: music@charterhouse.org.uk