Welcome back!
Being proud of our musicians is a daily occurrence at Simon Balle. Every day they never fail to amaze. Surprises, musical achievements, laughs, great music, amazing stories.
This is purely as a result of our ethos and hard work. Hard work from the musicians and you at home. Without your help at home, our musicians would achieve nothing. Without you listening to practice, celebrating, coming to performances and taking an interest, the musicians would be nothing.
Music is a team effort. In every way. When one member lets the team down, the team is affected. It is, above all though, something that requires very hard work. Commitment.
We live in an age where almost everything is instant, achievable, and gratifying, and if it isn't, there's almost always an easy fix. Not so with learning music. It isn't easy, you have to persevere, and you have many ups and downs along the way. But, it's oh so worth it.
Enjoy the music. That your children create. With your support.
Mark Taylor
Director of Music
Music Exam Success
In February, students from Year 4 to Year 12 sat their Trinity Classical exams.
Preparing for and sitting the exam can be a daunting experience, but students rose to the challenge and their results reflect this!
87% achieved Merit or Distinction, which is incredible!
Click the Trinity logo for the results.
A Celebration of Brass
On Thursday, Brass players from across both the Primary and Secondary phase came together to showcase what they have been working on!
It was a brilliant evening with opportunity for inspiration! You can watch it here!
Last Thursday I performed at the Brass celebration evening in the Brass ensemble. I feel that it came together really well and everyone worked together very hard to produce lots of good music. My highlight of the evening is when I played a solo piece called Lucky to be me. It was such a confidence boosting experience and I am much more comfortable playing on my own in front of an audience.
Millie, Year 10
Click in the top corner for more videos!
An Evening with the Simon Balle Big Band
Big Band Evening 2024 was absolutely amazing! To have each and every musician perform at the standard they achieved was incredible.
I played saxophone in Big Band 2 and violin in Senior Strings, accompanying the Big Band. This was my first Big Band Night, and the atmosphere was unlike any concert I'd been in before! The strings contributed to the sound and tone of the more jazzier Big Band pieces so much, I think the strings should do more with the Big Band. With barely any rehearsals, BB2 went smoothly, offering younger musicians a chance to perform in the Big Band Nights. I loved being part of some ensembles and listening to all of the Big Band songs - I can't pick a favorite! The night never seemed to end!
Holly, Year 8
Click in the top corner for more videos!
Year 2 Strings Training Celebration
Congratulations to our Year 2 String players who have completed their Strings Training Programme!
On Tuesday evening, our Year 2 String players showcased their achievement to parents, families and their peers with the support from Mrs Johnson and Mrs Nunn.
Strings is the very beginning of the musical journey in the Larch. Students pick to learn the Cello or the Violin, and begin working towards their Strings Training Programme!
All Year 2 players have been awarded their certificates, what an incredible achievement! We are really proud of our students!
You can watch the full celebration evening here:
Click in the top corner for more videos!
A Celebration of Singing & Secondary Strings
A wonderful evening full of music from a variety of ensembles!
Find our videos here:
Click in the top corner for more videos!
A Piano Evening
Another brilliant evening of music!
Mr Lovell's students came together for a recital evening in preparation for their upcoming exams.
Click in the top corner for more videos!
Our Instagram!
We are continuously posting updates over on our Instagram - from exam success to concert videos, to photos - follow us for all things Simon Balle Music here!
ONLY 10 DAYS TO GO!
The countdown is on for @simon_balle_school Saffron Sounds: A Musical Gala – an evening that showcases the very best of what @simonballemusic is all about.
Bringing all our musicians together once a year is more than just a performance – it’s a powerful reminder of the strength, ambition, and unity of Team Music. This gala is a celebration of every single musician, from our youngest students to our most advanced ensembles.
It’s an opportunity for our younger students to see what they can aspire to. It’s a chance for every performer to see the full picture of what we achieve together. It’s a night that inspires, unites, and celebrates the incredible journey we’re all part of.
Join us in just 10 days for an unforgettable evening of music, community, and inspiration.
#simonballeallthroughschool #simonballe #simonballeschool #simonballemusic #saffronsounds #musicalgala #proud #community

YEAR 7 - MUSIC APTITUDE ADMISSIONS 2026-2027
Please join us for a parent information evening on Wednesday 25th June at 6pm.
The governors, senior leaders and music department are delighted to be introducing an additional admissions rule for prospective students entering Year 7 at Simon Balle in 2026-2027. Up to 12 places will be awarded for musical aptitude.
Applications are welcome from students / families in Hertford, Hertford Heath, Ware and all of the surrounding villages. Please see our admissions policy here for precise details of locations.
Please find all information here: https://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/admissions/music-aptitude-tests-for-admission-to-year-7/
Email music@simonballe.herts.sch.uk with any further queries
#simonballeallthroughschool #simonballe #simonballeschool #simonballemusic #music #admissions #secondaryadmissions #hertford #hertfordshire

Just ONE week until our final Rock Gig of the year!
On WEDNESDAY 18th June - apologies to the error on our previous post. We will be at the Corn Exchange on WEDNESDAY 18th June.
Doors open at 6.30 for a 7pm start!
Have you bought your tickets?
#music #simonballemusic
#simonballeallthroughschool #rockschool #cornexchangehertford #cornexchange

Over 70% of tickets are sold - have you bought yours?
The link is on the What’s On page!
#simonballemusic #simonballeallthroughschool #saffronwalden #saffronhall #saffronhallsw @saffronhallsw

What's Coming Up?
We have so many upcoming events, including our spring term Rock Gig and a Celebration of Wind and Brass.
All information can be found on our What's On page!
Save the date! Our end of year celebration at Saffron is Saturday 6th July, keep an eye out for more details on the Saffron page (click the picture).
Many other events can be found on our What's on page: https://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/music/whats-on/