Here’s all the action from our annual House Singing Competition.
On Friday, 13th September, our seven Houses took to the Headmaster Porter Theatre stage to battle it out for the House Singing Cup – this year with two wins up for grabs for the Part Song and the Full Song.
From chart topping singles by Little Mix and Adele, to reimaged classics by Prince and Van Morrison – and even singing farmers chanting about their ‘Brand New Combine Harvester’ – the evening was full of incredible performances, memorable moments, amazing House spirit, and fantastic costumes.
It was a tough job for our new Prep School Deputy Head, Daniel Jones, who was initiated into Framlingham College life with the task of judging the performances and selecting the winners.
After careful consideration, with just half a point difference separating first and second place, it was Moreau who were crowned the winner for the Part Song with their emotive and harmonious performance of Adele’s ‘When We Were Young’. However, it was Rendlesham who were named Champions, scooping the coveted House Singing Cup with their rendition of Van Morrison’s ‘Brown Eyed Girl’.
Year 13 pupil, Archie L, Head of Rendlesham House said: “Rendlesham has been on a mission to claim the House Singing cup for five years now, so this win was one of the best ways to start the year. Our win consisted of a lot of screaming and jumping – mainly from me screaming at the top of my lungs while wearing a large fur coat with the trophy above my head! After picking up the trophy, we paraded back to House, where we had a music rave consisting of lots of flashing lights, loud music, and incredible House atmosphere, and which really helped everyone in House feel more connected and strengthened our friendship bonds.”
Year 13 pupil Margot S, Head of Moreau, said: “We were absolutely over the moon that we won the Part Song cup for our rendition of ‘When We Were Young’ by Adele. We had all put so much time and effort into this part song, and we had all really come together when practicing. When Mr Jones announced us as the Part Song winners, we all jumped out of our seats in celebration – it was a tough competition, and we knew all the other Houses had all also worked so hard.
“After the competition, we went back to House, and everyone from Year 9 to Year 13 was dancing to our main song, ‘Does Your Mother Know That You’re Out’ from Mamma Mia. This has become a bit of a theme in Moreau. Whether we win or lose, we know we have done our best, and we always come back to House and dance it out. We also do our ‘Mozza’ Moreau House chant and scream it so loud as a way of showing how proud we are off each other.”
Talking about the reason behind their Main Song choice, Archie said: “Rendlesham has always been a House that sings with passion and strength, which made the choice for our main-song easy. ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ is an upbeat and up-tempo song that we knew the boys would not only enjoy but also show off our musicality.
“I believe our greatest strength, which helped us scoop the win this year, was that fact we started immediately on the first day back from the summer. I told the boys that it would be tough, but it would also be the best two weeks of your year at Framlingham, and as Head of Rendlesham I could not be prouder of them.”
Talking about the reason behind their Part Song choice, Margot said: “After careful consideration, we agreed that this song was highly impactful emotionally, and it felt like a real winner for us – which it evidently ended up being. The song had moments of solo, duet, and group work – shining a light on everyone, and we all felt emotional while we sang it. The lyrics of the song related to us all individually, from Year 9 to 13, as we grow up. Not only for those singing, but also for our fellow ‘Moz’ gang – everybody felt emotional at this point in the night, strengthening the connection between us all.”
House Singing is an annual event which takes place two weeks into the new academic year. Each House forms a full singing group for a Main Song, and then a smaller group for a Part Song. It’s a fantastic way for new pupils to connect with their Houses, strengthen bonds, boost confidence and have fun, whatever the result at the end of the night.
Talking about the benefits of House Singing, Archie said: “These events help year groups to connect, build trust and friendships which, once established, lasts for a lifetime. The energy that an event like House Singing creates is immense – it amplifies everyone’s belief, courage and integrity in each other, something that Rendlesham has so much of.”
Margot said: “Events like our House Singing and House Dance competitions uplift everyone. As it takes place just two weeks after the start of term, it’s a great way to get back into routine and school life, and most importantly it brings everybody together for the new Year 9s and Year 12s. You can see it helps everyone grow in confidence, become more comfortable in their Houses, and helps build that family that the Year 9’s will have for the next five years and further. I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is, but the atmosphere of the Theatre switches and it is the starting point where you feel supported and not judged, and then this feeling carries on.
“Personally, from starting at Framlingham in Year 9, fresh from another school, House Singing was such a positive turning point for me, and it is such a special memory to hold onto and talk about with fellow Framlinghamians in the future.”
