LIFEMICHAELMAS 2019 Hitting the right notes… Students’ sensational performances at the House Music Competition Whitgift Racing car wins 1st place Whitgift launches its first ever History Festival Nick Cook visits for World Book Day Chelsea and U17 England World Cup winner Callum Hudson-Odoi returns An enchanting performance of the The Jungle Book and more inside … performing arts ‘The inaugural Fourth Form production was sensational’ Another Country Julian Mitchell’s play Another film and theatre acting since truthfully that by the end of the Country was certainly a bold a very young age, took on the show the audience could not help choice for Whitgift’s Fourth role of Director. Kit commented but feel tremendous sympathy for Form production. Set in a 1930s following his directing debut, ‘It their respective predicaments; boarding school, with the has been such a pleasure to work and the other characters were so narrative addressing substantial with such talented actors and has well-drawn and their relationships topics including homophobia given me even more respect than so clear that the tension and and political reform as well as I already had for teachers and claustrophobia of the play was adolescent mental health and directors working both in school quite palpable. But perhaps the suicide, it was impressive to see and in the theatre business.” most pleasing outcome is the the cast of 14-15 year olds take justification of the faith we placed on the challenge so confidently. Director of Drama, Mr Daniel in this talented group of boys to Pirrie praised the whole company, tell such a challenging, compelling The boys mastered the fast- “The inaugural Fourth Form story with such class and clarity. paced and witty script, whilst production was sensational I could not be prouder and the balancing the sensitivities of for many reasons: Kit’s superb future is bright!” each character and representing direction was clear, sharp and the contrasting friendships, pulled focus at just the right A big thank you to all those who alliances and rivalries. Particular moments; the two leads (Jon pulled this production together credit goes to student Kit Connor Cheshire and Henry Gillard) and congratulations to the whole who, having been involved in inhabited their characters so Fourth Form team. 2 WHITGIFT LIFE WHITGIFT LIFE 3 news news Lower First Former wins University of Cambridge’s ‘Make Your Myth’ competition The University of Cambridge in both. We all agreed that it was held the first ever ‘Make Your fantastically painted and really Myth’ competition run by their is an impressive piece.” Classics Faculty at the end of 2018. It was aimed at children Mention should also be made aged 7-13 and is a fun and of James Evans and Anish exciting way for students to Thayalan, whose creative learn more about Greek/Roman entries were shortlisted by the history and mythology through Whitgift Classics Department, art or creative writing. The as well as Rafael Cianfarani, Jimi task for the competition was to Ikumawoyi and Thomas Lloyd design a myth about Artemis, the whose outstanding work was Whitgift Racing car wins 1st place Greek goddess of hunting and entered in the written category. the moon. Since the start of the academic first F24 race, especially through into 3rd place and a strong finish giving up significant amounts of Head of Classics, Mr Miles year, a group of dedicated adverse circumstances of a red saw them overtake other cars to their own time.” The organisers from the Faculty Thompson commented, “It is students have been working hard flag delay and finished 23rd. take 1st place. of Classics at Cambridge fantastic to see such amazing ‘It is fantastic to see such to develop their Greenpower The car was then entered into Upper Sixth Form student, Jack commented, “There were 150 enthusiasm and outstanding electric car. The Whitgift Racing the F24+ race, unfortunately Deputy Head of First Form, Mr Skinner added, “Working on the wonderful entries to choose effort from Whitgift’s youngest amazing enthusiasm team travelled to Goodwood for less change-over time meant Matthew Taylor summarised, “It Greenpower car has given me from but Ehsan Saggers’ entry Classicists in the Lower First. We and outstanding effort the annual competition, which a slightly late start, with Ben was great to see all the boys’ hard further experience in engineering stood out from the rest. are thrilled that Ehsan’s work has challenges students to design Boros (Upper Sixth Form) as work and dedication to improving and has really helped me for my The judges were looking for been recognised by the University from Whitgift’s youngest and build an electric race car to driver still determined to catch the car pay off, with many of them future as a designer.” originality and artistic quality of Cambridge: he deserves to feel compete against other schools, up. However, it was strategically and his piece was marked highly extremely proud.” Classicists’ colleges and universities. decided to pull out of the race early to let the motor cool before Competing teams use the same the final F24 race. Highly commended entry in In January 2019, Croydon essays in front of an audience motor and batteries and there Council held a ceremony at the which included the Mayor of are two age levels within the The final race started with driver Holocaust essay competition Town Hall to commemorate Croydon, Councillor Hamida competition. Formula 24 (F24) Enzo Moore (First Form) who put Holocaust Memorial Day, Ali, Councillor Tony Newman is for students aged 11-16 and in the best lap time of the day, marking an international day of and Marilyn Arbisman from the Formula 24+ (F24+) for Sixth before he changed with second remembrance. Children from Croydon Synagogue. Form and university students. driver Lachlan Seymour (First local schools were invited to Form) and Hugo Stremes (Fourth enter an essay competition and Jake commented, “I really Luca Bower (First Form) did an Form) driving the final leg. The were given the theme ‘Torn from enjoyed the experience and impressive job as driver of the Whitgift car progressed its way Home’, with the winners chosen being part of a service that by the Standing Advisory Council commemorates something for Religious Education. Jake so important. I also had the Alex Ciulin wins Guildhall Lutine Prize 2019 Dennis (Second Form) entered opportunity to meet the Mayor his essay and was thrilled to be and Councillor Hamida Ali.” This competition showcases Warmest congratulations to awarded a high commendation young talent and has been Alex Ciulin for achieving first and invitation to read his essay at Whitgift students from the running since 1982. It is Junior prize and to Marian Bozhidarov the civic event. Whitgift String Quartet; Upper Guildhall’s equivalent of the for achieving second prize. Sixth Formers Kryštof Kohout senior school’s annual Gold The competition was a great The day began with a candle- (Violin), Luka Perazic (Violin), Medal competition. Having been testament to the combined lighting ceremony in the foyer of Kosta Popovic (Cello) and Fifth successful in the preliminaries, efforts of the Guildhall School Croydon Town Hall, followed by Former Uriel Vilchez Meza six students progressed to the of Music and Drama, Whitgift presentations by Riddlesdown (Viola), ended the day by playing final round, where they were and of course, all the talented Collegiate and Oasis Academy a rendition of Schindler’s List by required to perform a 20-minute young musicians who worked Coulsdon, and a moving talk John Williams. solo recital. so hard to achieve an incredible by Mrs Chantal Uwamahoro, Whitfield was delighted to (clarinet), Alex Ciulin (cello), level of musicianship. a survivor of the Rwandan With four of the six finalists watch an array of remarkable Kryštof Kohout (violin) and genocide. The essay winners currently studying at Whitgift, performances from Lower Sixth Kosta Popović (cello). were then invited to read their Director of Music, Rosanna Formers, Marian Bozhidarov 4 WHITGIFT LIFE WHITGIFT LIFE 5 news House Music Competition 2019 Whitgift students join the STEM In February 2019, the School However, it was Smith’s House best young translators in Pictures from the Second Form The aim of the project work is to welcomed back Mr Iain Carnegie who claimed victory on the night. STEM Projects in May 2019, enhance subject knowledge in as the adjudicator, a Former Mr Carnegie said that Marian Juvenes Translatores where students worked in small a fun way, as well as to develop member of Whitgift staff who Bozhidarov (Upper Sixth Form) teams to explore and present independent research skills, now works as an established film and Daniel Munks’ (Fifth Form) At the end of March 2019, two to staff and peers on a selected team working and confidence and television composer, and is clarinet and piano performance Whitgift linguists were invited to STEM topic. in presenting. currently Director of Music at of the jazz classic Misty was Europe House in Westminster to Reed’s School. The event is one of “astonishing” and “one of the attend a special event for their the few in the School’s calendar to best things I’ve ever heard”. achievements in the Juvenes be entirely organised by the boys Smith’s performance of Queen’s Translatores contest. Upper themselves. Don’t Stop Me Now was hailed Sixth Formers Joshua Nurse and as “wonderful”, featuring many Adrien Chatriot received a special Highlights of the evening included perFormers on stage. Upper mention. There were just 30 Lower Sixth Former Kryštof Sixth Form pupil Max Brown special mention winners of 317 Kohout’s passionate rendition was responsible for the genius entrants from the UK and both of Eugène Ysaÿe’s violin sonata arrangement, as well as playing of these students had translated Obsession, an arrangement of Major trombone and rapping! French to English.