Our first solo platform of the Academic year sees pupils in solo performance from all levels of the school. Admission is free and all are welcome!

Climb aboard for a night of ocean adventure! The Ocean Film Festival World Tour features a new collection of the world’s most incredible ocean films!

Brought to you by the team behind the Banff Mountain Film Festival UK & Ireland tour, this selection of short films combines breath-taking marine life and wild seafaring voyages in a cinematic celebration of our oceans.

Venturing to rarely explored depths of the planet, meet the surfers, paddlers, divers and scientists who have dedicated their lives to answering the call of the ocean. Plunge into the wonders of the big blue – without getting your feet wet!

See www.oceanfilmfestival.co.uk for more.

Picture by Alex Voyer.

Our Chamber choir has been invited to sing evensong at the Queens’ College in Oxford. Do join us for this reflective service in one of the iconic chapels of the university. Admission is free.

In war-torn Rome, Floria Tosca and Mario Cavaradossi live for each other and for their art. But when Cavaradossi helps an escaped prisoner, the lovers make a deadly enemy in the form of Baron Scarpia, Chief of Police. At the mercy of Scarpia’s twisted desires, Tosca is forced to make a horrific bargain: sleeping with the man she hates in order to save the man she loves. Can she find a way out?

A star-studded cast includes soprano Anna Netrebko performing the role of Tosca, tenor Freddie De Tommaso as Cavaradossi, and bass-baritone Gerald Finley as Scarpia, with Music Director of The Royal Opera Jakub Hrůša conducting his first new production in the role. An alternative, modern-day Rome provides the backdrop for Oliver Mears’ unmissable, gripping new production of Puccini’s thriller.

We are delighted to announce that we will be giving a concert in the sublime setting of the Holywell Music Room in Oxford. Thought to be the first custom built concert hall in Europe, pupils will give an evening concert of solo and chamber music. Booking is required for this concert, but admission is free. All are most welcome to hear and see some of the most experienced and talented musicians in the pupil body at Abingdon.

Join us at the Family Science Club for a Saturday morning filled with exciting challenges, hands-on exploration, and plenty of fun! Designed for curious minds of all ages, our Family Science Club offers a unique opportunity for adults and children to work together as they investigate the wonders of science through creative, interactive activities.

The Family Science Club runs once per half-term and is held in the state-of-the-art Partnerships Lab within the Yang Science Centre at Abingdon School. Each session features a new theme or scientific focus, encouraging families to discover something different every time.

Children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult throughout the session. Whether you’re experimenting, building, or solving puzzles together, it’s a brilliant way to inspire a love of science in a relaxed and supportive environment.

Family Science Club is delivered by Abingdon Science Partnership on behalf of Abingdon Sports and Leisure. The Abingdon Science Partnership (ASP) is primarily a science outreach organisation supported and funded by Abingdon School.

‘Touching the Void’ mountaineer, Simon Yates, is a veteran of over eighty expeditions to high/remote mountains around the globe and shows no signs of slowing down. This is his story of the last decade, of new adventures and climbs in the far north and south, along with summits in South America, Central Asia and the Himalaya.

In 2023, Simon travelled with legendary British mountaineer Mick Fowler to attempt the un-climbed north face of Patkhor in Tajikistan, but contracted food poisoning from their freeze-dried food on just the second day. After some debate, they continued, but this was just the beginning of a series of events that would see them run out of food, retreat below the summit in a storm and Simon taking a bone-breaking 100m fall during the descent. After two days of lying on the glacier waiting for a helicopter, rescuers finally arrived but were unable to carry Simon down. Somehow, he would need to summon the energy for the painful three day walk to safety.

A survival classic, with the added twists of a fast-paced thriller.

In a new addition to the Music Calendar, join us for an evening of solo performances given by pupils in the Lower School. There will be a range of instruments and genres on show as our 1st and 2nd years reveal their musical talent and prowess. Admission is free but please do book a ticket.

Following triumphant Met turns in Roméo et Juliette, La Traviata, and Lucia di Lammermoor, Nadine Sierra summits another peak of the soprano repertoire as Amina, who sleepwalks her way into audiences’ hearts in Bellini’s poignant tale of love lost and found. In his new production, Rolando Villazón—the tenor who has embarked on a brilliant second career as a director—retains the opera’s original setting in the Swiss Alps but uses its somnambulant plot to explore the emotional and psychological valleys of the mind.

Tenor Xabier Anduaga returns after his acclaimed 2023 Met debut in L’Elisir d’Amore, co-starring as Amina’s fiancé Elvino, alongside soprano Sydney Mancasola as her rival, Lisa, and bass Alexander Vinogradov as Count Rodolfo. Riccardo Frizza takes the podium for one of opera’s most ravishing works.

AOS bring the smash-hit 60s musical to the Amey Theatre! Featuring well-known songs such as ‘Before the Parade Passes By’, ‘Put On Your Sunday Clothes’ and, of course, ‘Hello, Dolly!’

OA Guy Cutting returns to Abingdon to give an evening recital of English song entitled ‘Whither must I wander?’ Guy Cutting is recognised internationally for his compelling performances and refined musicianship, with a particular reputation in the music of J.S. Bach. Equally at home on the recital stage, Guy has collaborated with a number of the world’s foremost ensembles and vocal directors. Further information can be found here. This is an evening not to be missed as one of the most prominent OA musicians returns to Abingdon to deliver an evening of wonderful musicianship accompanied by George Ireland.

Lise, the only daughter of Widow Simone, is in love with the young farmer Colas, but her mother has far more ambitious plans for her. Simone hopes to marry her off to Alain, the son of the wealthy proprietor Thomas. Desperate to marry Colas rather than Alain, Lise contrives to outwit her mother’s plans.  

65 years after its premiere, The Royal Ballet presents Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée. This affectionate portrayal of village life combines exuberant good humour and brilliantly inventive choreography in what is undoubtedly Ashton’s love letter to the English countryside. La Fille mal gardée whisks us away into pastoral bliss with Ferdinand Hérold’s cheerful score and Osbert Lancaster’s colourful designs.

On Remembrance Sunday, the Chapel choir will give a performance of Faure’s iconic Requiem. The first half will feature a number of choral items and chamber music including music by Grieg, Rachmaninov and Wood. Set in the wonderful setting of Dorchester Abbey, all are most welcome to join us as we commemorate those lost in conflict on Remembrance Sunday.

Our fourth masterclass for the term sees Julian Hellaby provide an inspired workshop for our pianists. With a varied career as a teacher, educator, solo and ensemble performer, Julian has a broad musical background with a varied and experienced pedagogical focus. Further details can be found on his website: https://julianhellaby.com/  This masterclass is kindly sponsored by the Abingdon School Music Society.

Our concerto concert returns as we  are delighted to welcome Mark Nixon to adjudicate our Concerto Competition Concert. Mark is currently Head of Keyboard at King’s College School, Wimbledon and teaches at the Junior Academy of Music. Pupils will perform an array of solo concerto movements, accompanied by piano, in preparation for possible performance in March in our Concerto Concert. All are most welcome to join us!

Our final masterclass of the term sees the visit of internationally acclaimed clarinettist Andrew Marriner visit Abingdon to give a masterclass to our clarinet pupils. As one of the leading instrumentalists of his generation, Andrew was Principal Clarinet of the LSO for 34 years whilst also maintaining an international solo career. Heralding from a musical family, highlights of Andrew’s career include many performances over the years with his father, Sir Neville Marriner, both as soloist and a member of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Further details can be found on his website: http://www.andrewmarrinerclarinet.com/  This is certainly a masterclass not to be missed!

The Abingdon School Choral Society will perform Verdi’s iconic Requiem supported by a series of acclaimed soloists. With an orchestra of professional musicians and pupils, the Adult choral society and pupils will join together to deliver this work of epic proportions, often dubbed ‘an opera in disguise’.

Do join us for the first of two Christmas Concerts taking place in the Amey Theatre. Tonight’s concert will focus on a lighter programme of music as the First Year Choir, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Big Band and other smaller ensembles showcase their musical talents.

Our final concert of term sees our orchestras take to the stage to perform. The Chamber Orchestra, Sinfonia, Sinfonietta and Symphony Orchestra will all perform their term’s work. With music by Mozart, Strauss, and Grieg, there is something for all whilst the Symphony Orchestra will perform Dvorak’s immense 9th Symphony. Do join us for a wonderful evening of music making to round off the term’s musical activities.

The magician Herr Drosselmeyer needs to save his nephew. Hans-Peter has been transformed into a Nutcracker; the only way to save him is for the Nutcracker to defeat the Mouse King and find a girl to love and care for him. A flicker of hope comes in the form of the young Clara, whom Drosselmeyer meets at a Christmas party. With some magic, a cosy Christmas gathering turns into a marvellous adventure.

Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker has enchanted audiences since its 1984 premiere by the Company. Featuring Tchaikovsky’s most familiar melodies and brought to life by Julia Trevelyan Oman’s exquisite designs, The Nutcracker is sure to be a festive firecracker for all ages.

At one of her lavish parties, celebrated Parisan courtesan Violetta is introduced to Alfredo Germont. The two fall madly in love, and though hesitant to leave behind her life of luxury and freedom, Violetta follows her heart. But the young couple’s happiness is short-lived, as the harsh realities of life soon come knocking.

As intimate as it is sumptuous, La traviata features some of opera’s most famous melodies, and is a star vehicle for its leading soprano role sung by Ermonela Jaho. In director Richard Eyre’s world of seductive grandeur, the tender and devastating beauty at the centre of Verdi’s opera shines bright.

Virginia Woolf defied literary conventions to depict rich inner worlds – her heightened, startling and poignant reality. Resident Choreographer Wayne McGregor leads a luminous artistic team to evoke Woolf’s signature stream of consciousness writing style in this immense work that rejects traditional narrative structures. Woolf Works is a collage of themes from Mrs Dalloway, Orlando, The Waves and Woolf’s other writings. Created in 2015 for The Royal Ballet, this Olivier-award winning ballet triptych captures the heart of Woolf’s uniquely artistic spirit.

Presented by Speakers from the Edge

Join legendary climber Leo Houlding for his next new show, Exposed, a gripping live experience with stunning visuals, film, and storytelling from the world’s wildest places. After three decades on the edge of adventure, Leo now explores with his young family—kiting across the Norwegian Arctic, canyoning in the Arabian desert, paddling remote Pacific islands, and spending a week vertical camping with the kids up El Capitan. 

A story of risk, resilience, and reward—Exposed will inspire you to embrace discomfort, confront fear, and chase your own horizons.

The peasant girl Giselle has fallen in love with Albrecht. When she discovers that he is actually a nobleman promised to another, she kills herself in despair. Her spirit joins the Wilis: the vengeful ghosts of women hell-bent on killing any man who crosses their path in a dance to the death. Wracked with guilt, Albrecht visits Giselle’s grave, where he must face the Wilis – and Giselle’s ghost.

Peter Wright’s 1985 production of this quintessential Romantic ballet is a classic of The Royal Ballet repertory. Set to Adolphe Adam’s evocative score and with atmospheric designs by John Macfarlane, Giselle conjures up the earthly and otherworldly realms in a tale of love, betrayal and redemption.

Princess Pamina has been captured. Her mother, the Queen of the Night, tasks the young Prince Tamino with her daughter’s rescue. But when Tamino and his friendly sidekick, Papageno, embark on their adventure, they soon learn that when it comes to the quest for love, nothing is as it really seems. Guided by a magic flute, they encounter monsters, villains, and a mysterious brotherhood of men – but help, it turns out, comes when you least expect it.

Mozart’s fantastical opera glitters in David McVicar’s enchanting production. A star cast including Julia Bullock as Pamina, Amitai Pati as Tamino, Huw Montague Rendall as Papageno, Kathryn Lewek as the Queen of the Night, and Soloman Howard as Sarastro, led by French conductor Marie Jacquot in her Covent Garden debut.

Following her acclaimed 2024 company debut in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, soprano Asmik Grigorian returns to the Met as Tatiana, the lovestruck young heroine in this ardent operatic adaptation of Pushkin. Baritone Igor Golovatenko reprises his portrayal of the urbane Onegin, who realizes his affection for her all too late. The Met’s evocative production, directed by Tony Award–winner Deborah Warner, “offers a beautifully detailed reading of … Tchaikovsky’s lyrical romance” (The Telegraph).