St Mary's Music School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Mary's Music School
Address
25 Grosvenor Crescent Edinburgh , EH12 5EL Scotland
Information
Type	Independent day and boarding Specialist music school
Established	1880
Headteacher	Kenneth Taylor
Acting Director of Music	John Cameron
Gender	Coeducational
Age	9 to 19
Enrolment	80 (2017)
Website	https://www.stmarysmusicschool.co.uk/

St Mary's Music School is a special music school in Edinburgh, Scotland. It's for young people aged 9 to 19 who have a great talent for music. It's also the Choir School for St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral.

This school is unique because it's Scotland's only full-time independent school just for music. It welcomes students from all over Scotland, the UK, and other countries. In 2023, about 64 students attended the school.

St Mary's Music School building

How to Join the School

To get into St Mary's Music School, you need to show your musical skills. This happens through an audition and an assessment. Your talent and potential are the most important things, no matter your background.

The Scottish Government offers financial help, sometimes covering all costs. This is through a special program called the Aided Places scheme. The school and St Mary's Cathedral also offer their own financial support called bursaries.

Music Performances

Students at the school get to play in many different groups. These include a large chamber orchestra and smaller string groups. They also have special groups for jazz and traditional Scottish music. You might hear instruments like the clàrsach (a type of harp) and bagpipes.

Students perform often in Edinburgh and other places. They have concerts at school during lunchtime. They also play at famous venues like the Queen's Hall, Edinburgh and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. Sometimes, they even play for important events, like visits from royalty or at the Scottish Parliament.

School Life and Learning

The school day usually starts at 8:30 am and finishes at 5:00 pm. On Wednesdays, it ends earlier at 3:30 pm, and on Fridays at 4:30 pm.

St Mary's Music School has a strong academic record. In 2016, all students passed their National 4, Higher, and A level exams. Almost all students passed their National 5 and Advanced Highers too. In 2007, it was even named the Scottish Independent Secondary School of the Year.

A former music director, Nigel Murray, once said that learning music helps students in all parts of their lives. He believed that the discipline needed for music makes students better at everything they do.

School History

St Mary's Music School first opened in 1880. It was originally called the Song School of St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral. Its main job was to train young singers for the new cathedral choir. At that time, the school was located near the Cathedral.

In the 1970s, people wanted to make the school even better. They decided to expand it into a special music school, like the famous Yehudi Menuhin School. Lord Menuhin himself became a supporter of the school. In 1976, girls were allowed to join the Cathedral choir for the first time.

In 1995, the music school moved to its current home at Coates Hall. This building is on Grosvenor Crescent in Edinburgh.

St Mary's Music School is the only Scottish member of the UK Music and Dance Schools (MDS). It's similar to other top music schools in Europe. The current president is John Wallace, a famous trumpet player. Other well-known musicians like Evelyn Glennie and Steven Isserlis are also vice presidents.

In 2019, the school received a brand new Steinway piano. This was a gift from a charitable group.

Where the School Is Located

The school is in a building called Coates Hall. It was designed in 1850 by David Bryce. Later, it was bought by the Scottish Episcopal Church and made bigger.

When St Mary's Music School moved into Coates Hall in 1995, it gained many great spaces. The old chapel is now used for concerts. It has beautiful stained glass windows by Ninian Comper. The school also has two libraries, staff offices, and bedrooms for students who live there. There are 25 music practice rooms for students to use. Most academic classes are taught in other buildings on the school grounds.

The school is surrounded by gardens in the heart of Edinburgh's West End. It's easy to get to, as it's close to Haymarket railway station and bus and tram stops.

The Song School, which is still part of the nearby Cathedral, is used daily by the choir. It has amazing murals by Phoebe Anna Traquair. These murals show scenes like the cathedral choir singing and famous artists.

Plans for the Royal High School Site

In 2016, the school suggested a plan to move to the old Royal High School building in Edinburgh. This plan would have cost £25 million and would have allowed the school to teach more students. The Edinburgh Council planning committee approved the school's idea in 2016.

However, the council had a previous agreement to turn the Royal High into a hotel. After two hotel plans were rejected, the council ended their agreement in 2021. St Mary's Music School then got a long-term lease for the site, hoping to move forward with their plans.

Famous Former Students

Many talented people have studied at St Mary's Music School. Here are a few:

• Alexander Armstrong – a comedian, actor, and TV presenter.
• Alan Benzie – a pianist who won the BBC Scotland Young Jazz Musician of the Year award.
• Brìghde Chaimbeul – a talented bagpiper.
• Paul Galbraith – a well-known guitarist.
• Helen Grime – an oboist and composer.
• Ethan Loch – a pianist and composer, who was the first blind student to attend the school.
• Steven Osborne – a famous pianist.
• Garry Walker – a conductor.

See also

In Spanish: Escuela de Música St Mary para niños

• Music schools
• Music schools in Scotland