Last Friday saw the return of the Pilgrims’ annual School of Rock, a much-loved event where boys of all ages take to the stage, microphone in hand, to entertain an audience of possibly unparalleled enthusiasm (who doesn’t secretly want their son to play in a band?)

Decking the quad with bunting, lanterns, and a more-than-liberal scattering of popcorn, the PPA spent a very happy – and hot – afternoon setting up stalls for refreshments, face paint, glitter tattoos, and neon hairspray (apologies; it did wash out!), while working tirelessly in the background, Miss Willcocks sound checked the equipment and marshalled a kaleidoscopic array of would-be musicians, some more on top of their lyrics than others. Come 6 o’clock, the doors opened, and everything worked to perfection. Not miraculous, but the art is in making it seem so!

It was such fun to hear sterling performances from boys from all year groups, Pre-Prep and upwards, often playing on instruments other than those they study, in a genre not necessarily central to Mr du Plessis’s music lessons, and all delivered with panache and that peculiar dedication that goes into making something complex appear effortless, even casual. Parents drifted, boys bounced – they really did – and summer reigned from a sky Renaissance blue, the lowering sun ushering in the parents’ band as the closing act, who kept us all dancing.

Enormous thanks to the music department for putting this wonderful event together; to the parents who arranged band-practices with only three of the five members present at any one time; to the boys, for putting on such a brilliant show; and to the many members of staff who took part, encouraged, or quietly contributed. Marking the onset of end-of-term mayhem, in the best possible sense, this was an evening to be remembered. Here’s to many more! 

Anna Elliot
PPA Chair