5 reasons to study at Xaverian College

1. High Performing

Top 10% nationally for student achievement. Excellent results at all levels, from Level 1 to University Science courses and in both academic and applied subjects. Always above national averages.

2. Friendly & Welcoming

A genuine community where every individual is cared for and supported to success. Our caring ethos is central to college life, and at Xaverian you will be welcomed into a diverse and exciting community that values every individual and an environment that will support you in every way.

3. Unique Campus

Set in the heart of Manchester and with a rich history going back over 150 years. A mixture of new and modern buildings together with historic grade one listed buildings, superb facilities and lots of space makes this an attractive and successful sixth form college.

4. Teaching & Learning

Dynamic, engaging lessons delivered by enthusiastic staff, passionate about their subjects and their students. Teachers providing extensive academic, pastoral and extracurricular activities to ensure students fulfil their potential and achieve their goals.

5. Raising Expectations

A college environment that seeks to prepare students for the next stage in their careers by fostering their maturity, encouraging independent learning skills and seeking to develop the whole personality.

Music

The music department has over 38 ensembles. The college has an outstanding orchestra with over 110 musicians and a fabulous choir with over 70 singers. There are also a vast number of impressive chamber ensembles e.g. Contemporary choir, funk collective, Big Band, flute group, clarinet group, saxophone group, string group, wind ensemble, brass group, brass quartet, jazz band, swing band, jazz trio, girls’ choir, chamber choir, percussion group, gypsy band and rock bands.

Students are encouraged to take an active role in these musical activities and to form and direct their own ensembles. Students will develop the ability to rehearse and direct their very own groups.

New Facilities

The music department boasts a new state of the art building; facilities second to none.
An industry standard recording studio with 3 live rooms.
A Studio with an 8 core MacPro, 2 iMacs, 1 Macbook Pro. (Software includes Logic Pro 9, Sibelius 7 and Melodyen).
1 teaching room.
2 recital/concert rooms.
12 practice rooms (including mirrors, pianos, and sound proofing).
7 recording rooms.
Computer suite with 20 apple computers, logic pro x and Sibelius 6.
A percussion room.
4 drum kit rooms
All rooms have pianos, stands and amps.
The department also record professional visiting ensembles/soloists and run recording projects with musicians from local secondary schools and music services.

The Music Staff at Xaverian College

Andrew Levendis – Director Of Music

Neil Bowden – Music Teacher

Ged Marciniak – Music Technology Teacher

Music Support Staff

Josh Brierley – Bass Guitar

Alison Farshi – Accompanist and piano

Duncan Reid – Violin

Jessica Tomlinson – Clarinet

Kyran Matthews – Saxophone and Jazz

David Howard – Accompanist and piano

Graham South – Trumpet and Cornet

Gemma Salmon – Piano

Dan McDwyer – Voice and choral studies

Jennifer Dyson – Flute

Craig Hanson – Drums and percussion

Performances Concerts

The music department performs 6 major concerts and 7 recitals during the academic year. This includes a “Xaverian College Young Musician of the Year Competition”.

Young Musician of the Year 2017/18

Olivia Harrison

Workshops/Master Classes

Master classes are undertaken by the peripatetic music teachers and Mr Levendis on a weekly basis. These include Jazz workshops by Callum Dewar, vocal workshops by Stuart Overington, string quartet writing directed by Matthew Sergeant, Michael Doherty, Callum Dewar and the Trafford Music Service String Quartet.
The Xaverian College music department employ leading professional international musicians to put on workshops. For example jazz workshops by Mike Hall (Head of Jazz Studies RNCM) and Geth Griffith (RNCM), composition workshops by Dr David Horne (Professor of composition RNCM), Adam Gorb (Head of Composition RNCM), and vocal workshops by Maureen Brathwaite and Ronald Samm.
The music department works in partnership with the RNCM; this work includes string quartet writing, jazz workshops, Gamelan master classes, joint concerts, musical theatre productions, a mentoring scheme, 6th form teaching experience for RNCM students, and teacher training.
RNCM composition students write commissioned works for Xaverian ensembles, premiered in concerts and recitals at the RNCM on a yearly basis.

Mr Levendis mentors and tutors RNCM students, who in turn come into college to mentor/tutor Xaverian students. The RNCM students are both 2nd year and 3rd year undergraduates.

All these activities help the musicians at Xaverian to develop and blossom; they are devised to also create an enjoyable musical environment and to help students in their AS and A2 examinations.