Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet is one of the UK’s top performing state schools. The all-boys school was founded in 1573 and each year, celebrates this with a Founder’s Day in June.
In 2020, work began on a new building to accommodate a new music department and recital hall. Music is at the core of everything that takes place at the school, and it is testament to the wonderful music department staff and students that the new building has been positioned right in the heart of the school site.
As well as the new building, the school also undertook an ambitious fundraising plan to upgrade the facilities of the new music department, including a new fleet of world-class pianos.
Director of Music, Ruth Partington contacted Coach House at the end of 2020 to discuss requirements and options. Very quickly, arrangements were made for Coach House to place some pianos in the school on trial, as at the time, it was not possible for showroom visits due to Covid. As a result of the in-situ trial, the school made the decision to purchase a premium Yamaha CF6 concert grand as the performance piano for the recital hall. When Covid restrictions were eased in the Spring of 2021, it was possible for Ruth along with her Deputy Head of Music, James McEvoy Stephenson, and a group of the school’s top student pianists, to visit Coach House London, to try a range of pianos. At the same time world renowned cabaret pianist and music educator, Harry the Piano came to assist, entertain, and more importantly film a short performance to be used in the Founder’s Day presentation that June. This was a vital contribution to the fundraising activities for the new piano fleet, and by the end of June 2021 the school was able to finalise their requirements and order the new music department pianos.
The new building was completed in December 2021, and the new pianos delivered by the Coach House delivery team. In May 2022 the official launch of the Friends’ Recital Hall and new Music Department took place with a 3 day festival of musical activities. As part of the celebration, Coach House provided the services, once again, of Harry the Piano with a series of workshops during the day with students, followed by an evening show to a capacity audience in the Friends’ Recital Hall.
At the start of next school year, Coach House will welcome students from Queen Elizabeth’s to take part in the Coach House Masterclass and Recital series at the Bösendorfer Hall in its London showroom.
