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Madrigals - 3rd July 2009
This typically Oxford event is a real treat. The Madrigal Society arrived on punts and sang a variety of madrigals and folk songs including Fair Phyllis I saw, The Old Woman and the Pedlar and a lovely arrangement of O Shenandoah. In between there were instrumental interludes from the Riverside Woodwind Ensemble and the Flute group. A lovely evening, much enjoyed by the large crowd.
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Midsummer Mania - 2nd July 2009
Midsummer Mania took place on a beautiful Thursday afternoon at MCS, run by the Parents' Association. Highlights included punting, drumming, tournaments, games, music and 'Strictly Staff Dancing', followed by a performance by exhibiton dancers from Oxford University. A great time was had by all!
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Oxford Encaenia - 1st July 2009
Second Former Henry Charles had an important role to play at Encaenia - the ceremony at which the University of Oxford awards honorary degrees. As the Chancellor's page and dressed in full regalia, he accompanied the Heads of Colleges and university dignitaries in procession from Brasenose to the Sheldonian. Novelist Philip Pullman, Fazle Hasan Abed, a Bangladeshi poverty campaigner and Dr Santiago Calatrava-Valls, an architect and engineer were among those awarded honorary degrees.
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3rd Form Art Lecture - 1st July 2009
Richard Wentworth is a famous sculpture and artist, currently the Director of the Ruskin Art School and a tutor of Damian Hurst, one of the most famous artists in the world at present. On the 1st of July 2009 as part of the MCS Arts Festival Mr Wentworth gave a talk to the 3rd Form, describing his interests and theories.
Mr Wentworth's key theme concentrated on power. He discussed the way in which an artist already renowned could propose a piece of "art" such as a stained chair and the public would assume there was some artistic merit and symbolism behind it. However, if a unheard of artist proposed the same piece it would not be received with the same reverence.
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The Tempest - 30th June 2009
The Lower Sixth put on an amazing production of The Tempest this week on school field. Pupils were involved in all aspects of the production, including set construction, costumes, and the composition and performance of an original musical score. The acting cast had an invaluable workshop with John Caird in the run up to two stunning performances by the river.
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3rd Form Classical Drama Workshop - 30th June 2009
The whole 3rd form spent a busy morning experiencing some of the key elements of classical drama, imitating the birds, frogs, and wasps of comic choruses, exploring the ways in which masks affect theatrical movement and expression, and blitzing through a whirlwind tour of Roman history under the expert guidance of Mr Spowart. |
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Schools Challenge - 28th June 2009
On Sunday 28th June, MCS hosted the National Finals of Junior (i.e. Lower School section) Schools Challenge Quiz. The MCS team consisting of Matt Brown (Captain), Oskar Bukolt, Sam Deans and Edmund Garnett, (already Home Counties Champions), became National Runners Up after a well-fought defeat to Merchant Taylors' Crosby.
On their way to the finals they beat Queen Mary Grammar School, Walsall (the West Midlands champions) in a close inter-regional match 790 - 700. They then despatched with Kimbolton School in the quarters, before a considerable victory over Dulwich College Prep in the semis. Sadly overall victory was not to be - but it wasn't bad for our first time in the competition! |
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U11 Cricket Tour - 22-27th June 2009
The U11 Cricket team travelled to North Yorkshire for a cricket tour this week. They played 5 games, won 4 and the other game was rained off.
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Ian McMillan Workshop - 26th June 2009
On Friday Ian McMillan entertained and enthused a range of would-be poets and writers with his selected readings of his own and other people's work. The work shop also marked the first meeting of the school's 'Writers' Club' and its founder, Simon Devenport was delighted with the material produced by the boys during the session. The club hope to launch their own creative work as a pod cast in September and Ian McMillan's readings will appear on the first broadcast!
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Physics Workshop - 26th June 2009
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Battle of the Bands - 26th June 2009
On Friday night MCS rocked... boy bands and staff bands. The Sixth Form Common Room came alive and a fun night was had by all.
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An Evening with Tony Benn - 25th June 2009
On Thursday 25th June MCS hosted an evening with Tony Benn. The veteran Labour politician talked about his life in politics and what he thinks about the changes in the Labour party.
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Singing Workshop - 25th June 2009
On Thursday afternoon the Close Harmony Group went to Wychwood School for a workshop with the King's Singers. Luckily Abingdon and St Edward's Schools dropped out and so the boys had half an hour rehearsing their acappella number "Ocappella" with the professional singers. They were impressed with the boys and offered some useful advice. The afternoon ended with a joint rendition of Gifts to be Simple with the Wychwood Choir.
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Creation Theatre Workshops - 25th June 2009
On 25th June, the school was visited by six actors from the Oxford-based Creation Theatre company, who did some workshops with the lower fourth and second forms. In the splendid sunshine on school field and the spit the boys did some improvisation, vocal and physical theatre based around Macbeth in the morning and A Midsummer Night's Dream in the afternoon. All the boys involved took part in a short performance at the end of each session and the standard was uniformly high. The actors commented on the enthusiasm and talent displayed and the experience was a very enjoyable one.
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Sports Day - 24th June 2009
The culmination of the athletics season is always Sports Day, and this year saw near perfect conditions for some excellent performances. The overall winning house of Sports Day this year was Chavasse.
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Nicholas Nickleby - 23rd June 2009
The Lower and Middle School play, Nicholas Nickleby, was a great success and was enjoyed by audiences on Monday and Tuesday this week.
In a time of recession, Charles Dickens' novels speak to contemporary society with astonishing relevance. The recent BBC production of 'Little Dorrit' testifies to this. 'Nicholas Nickleby' is a novel similarly preoccupied with human greed and the way it can dominate not only our jobs and businesses, but also our homes and relationships.
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Ruby Baker - Centurian - 23rd June 2009
On Tuesday 23rd of June a small group of choristers and ex-choristers under the leadership of Peter Smith, serenaded Ruby Baker, matron at MCS for 25 years, to celebrate her 100th Birthday. Looking well clutching her telegram from the Queen and with a constant smile on her face, she enjoyed a solo from Stefan Roberts and an extremely tuneful rendition of 'Happy Birthday'. Helping her celebrate were former teachers Alan Richie and Richard Silk, along with OW's Les Robertson, Chris Walker and others. There were also many cards that OW's had sent.
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Pre-tour Concert - 22nd June 2009
Monday night saw the first concert in the Arts Festival. The Choral Society, String ensemble and Close Harmony Group performed pieces which they will be taking on tour to Italy in a fortnight. As part of the concert Dan Smith gave a small organ recital, playing with real style and accomplishment. The concert finished with everyone joining for Fauré's Cantique de Jean Racine.
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Geography Trade Seminar - 22nd June 2009
The international markets went wild today as 80 L4th boys, representing a range of countries, busily produced goods for sale and tried to influence the WTO on a range of issues regarding world trade. The inequalities of the trading system were starkly demonstrated by this impressive simulation.
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