I am delighted to inform you about the wonderful world of music at SMS. The Music Department provides a positive experience for all through the impact of music. We encourage personal development and the pursuit of excellence within a spiritual and caring environment.

The Music Department is situated in the Leta Blake Music Block where the girls have access to purpose-built practice rooms each with an upright piano. There is a big music room where group tuition and Creative Arts take place. It is equipped with a piano, computer, excellent sound equipment, projector and white board. This room is also used as a rehearsal room. The Marimba band and Drum kit have their own ensemble room, where girls go for lessons and have access for practice purposes. Regular concerts take place mostly in the Chapel where there is a grand piano and a pipe organ. This is an ideal opportunity for girls to showcase their talents.

St Michael’s School has one full time Music teacher and three peripatetic instrumental tutors who provide individual lessons for students taking piano, violin, drum kit, recorder, organ, flute and singing amongst others.St Michael’s School Music Department provides the opportunity for students to take private music lessons in the areas of instrumental, vocal or theory study. St Michael’s has identified various talented music teachers, all highly respected musicians in their field, to teach instrumental lessons.

All girls at St Michael’s School study music from Grade 1 through to Grade 9. The department also has a flourishing academic music programme from Grades 10 – 12 where Music as an academic subject becomes an option.

St Michael’s has three active choirs. The Junior Primary Choir (Grades 1-3), Senior Primary Choir (Grades 4-6) and the Chapel Choir (Grades 7-12). The Chapel Choir leads the singing at various services at school and has been ranked as one of the best Girls’ Choirs in the country. They have been crowned National winners at the ATKV Applous National Choir Competition for a number of years (2007, 2008, 2012 &2015) in the non-Afrikaans speaking choir section. In 2022, the Chapel Choir received a Gold award at the Regional round of the ATKV Applous National Choir Competition. 

The Senior Primary Choir took part in Sing in Harmonie, an event where recordings of their singing were made for broadcast on national television. They also qualified for the final round of this event.

Towards the end of 2015 they undertook a successful European tour to Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic where they had 11 performances. They finished the tour with participation in the Advent Competition in Prague where they received a Gold certificate and a second place overall.

Since 2000 the Music, Art and Drama Department of St Michael’s has organised a very successful Festival at which students from all over the Free State and South Africa have the opportunity to take part on a non-competitive level. This event takes place every second year during the month of May and ends with a prestigious achievers’ concert in our beautiful Chapel. The next Festival will take place in 2024 when the school will be celebrating its 150th birthday.

St Michael’s School for Girls will celebrate its 150th birthday in 2024 and an eventful music programme will form part of the celebrations. The Music, Art and Drama Festival as well as a Songs of Celebration concert, amongst others, will take place. 

Research has shown that music encourages greater self-discipline, self-esteem, teamwork, communication skills and special awareness, but best of all, it is great fun! Therefore, I warmly invite your daughter to become a valued part of music making at St Michael’s and look forward to meeting you in the future.