A week of performing and creative arts at The Beacon, with Beacon Bard and Beacon Musician of the Year and then the whole school Art Exhibition in the Spinney. I mean this in the nicest possible way but in the weeks leading up to the Art Exhibition, Michelle Jackson’s Art Room resembles nothing more than an elaborate jumble sale of all manner of different media, and it becomes difficult to imagine them being collated and curated into what is such a professional event. The ambience and atmosphere of the Spinney with its musical and lighting effects enhancing and adding magic dust to the boys’ work on display was enjoyed and appreciated by all. It is all too easy for people like me to proclaim “I’m rubbish at art”, but that’s just not a phrase that has any currency at The Beacon, with every boy in the school contributing to a stunning array of artistic talent.
And then to Tuesday and Wednesday where we hosted Beacon Bard and Beacon Musician of the Year. Unfortunately I was unable to attend Beacon Bard but, in what is the modern way, I have been able to ‘catch up’ on ‘BeaconPlayer’ to see the boys in action. Takes a lot of courage and hard work to rehearse and prepare a piece of music or Shakespeare but, as always, Beacon boys have no problem in putting on a performance. Which is just as well as part of the ‘prize’ of winning these two awards is that they are reprised at Speech Day in front of over a thousand people later this term. For Jimmy (Beacon Musician of the Year) and Kit (Beacon Bard) the practice doesn’t stop, and it all falls on me now to follow those performances with a suitably impactful Headmaster’s Address on the day. Thanks for the added pressure boys…!
Nick Baker