Talented pupils rock the stage at Inspiration Trust’s Battle of the Bands in its third year

The ultimate Rock and Pop competition has returned! More pupils than ever before took part from across our family of schools for the first musical event of the year, the Battle of the Bands! 

With more than 100 entrants this year, the competition was strong, and every musician played to the best of their ability, impressing other bands, staff, and judges alike! This was an opportunity for not only pre-existing bands to hone their musical skills, but also to give those who may have been newly-formed the chance to compete and gain more experience performing in front of an audience. 

This specialised competition is offered alongside the other Annual Inspiration Trust competitions including the Piano and Annual Music Competitions, with an aim to encourage young people to get more involved with music, and a chance for avid Rock & Pop musicians to showcase their prowess in their instruments. Held for the first time at the John Innes Centre, pupils had the opportunity to perform in a extraordinary music venue in front of their peers.

Pupils from nearly every secondary school in the Trust took to the stage, alongside some of our talented sixth formers, coming together to not only perform cover versions of their favourite songs, but also showcase some of their original songs. The musicians performed on a variety of instruments and not just those that are traditionally in the rock and pop genre. For example, bands consisted of drums, guitar, keyboard and bass, as well as trumpet, bassoon and vocals.  

Winners were once again picked by a panel of music professionals, but for the first time, consisted of two extraordinary external members, Dan Foden (Head of Campus at Access Creative College in Norwich), and JJ Wheeler (UK & Ireland Development Manager for Music, Trinity College London). A full list of the winners is below, alongside the coveted prize of ‘Band of the Year’: 

KS3 Cover Song – The Kelpies (Jane Austen College) 

KS3 Original Song - Baby Eyebrow (Thetford Academy) 

KS4 Cover Song - Avarice (Wayland Academy) 

KS4 Original Song - ChikaCheeters (Thetford Academy) 

KS5 Cover Song - JAC 6th Form Band (Jane Austen College) 

KS5 Original Song - Jorge and the Amars (Thomas Paine Sixth Form) 

Secondary Mixed-Age Band KS3-5 – The Softly Spoken (Thetford Academy) 

Staff Cover Song – Thetford Academy teachers 

Band of the Year - Avarice (Wayland Academy) 

John Stephens, Director of Music, said: 

“Congratulations to all participants, and especially to the category winners and the Band of the Year. Every year the quality of entries rises. It’s such an encouraging trend. I’m proud that schools are nurturing this talent, that the Inspiration Trust can offer competitions to encourage that on a larger scale, and that our young people take up these opportunities that are offered to them. It shows that the future is bright!” 

Inspiration Trust is committed to giving our pupils the opportunity to explore music and encourage them to gain confidence in their skills. We are proud that multiple bands across our schools entered the competition, where they competed in a supportive environment, and showcased their amazing talents. A big well done to everyone involved in the competition! 

Adjudicator Biography: JJ Wheeler 

In the decade since graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, JJ Wheeler has embraced a wide range of opportunities as a professional drummer and educator. His career has taken him around the world, performing, teaching, and examining in over 25 countries across five continents. A passionate advocate for positivity in both the music and music education sectors, JJ continues to inspire through his global contributions to the field. 

Adjudicator Biography: Dan Foden 

Dan Foden is the Head of Campus at Access Creative College in Norwich. The college runs full time courses for ages 16+ and is renowned for producing incredible quality musicians, producers and bands, many of whom have gone on to success locally and nationally.  

Dan also founded the local music partnership New Noise! The aim is to raise the profile of musicians from 14 to 25 in the region, putting on events in Norwich and beyond and working with local radio. He is a talent spotter and has been teaching and supporting musicians beyond this then is also an active musician in his own right as a guitarist, singer, songwriter and pianist.