For us music is all about enjoyment, expression and the development of skills. It’s a major cultural force that equips students with both intellectual and aesthetic stimulation, and that’s something that we think is reflected in the sheer choice of activities all young musicians have here at Dollar.
Our annual school musical is one of the school’s biggest public events. This full-scale production in front of a ticketed audience of several thousand is open to all pupils in Forms III – VI in the Senior School. Performances have been staged at the Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline, and The MacRobert Centre in Stirling. Auditions for the much-coveted roles as part of the leading cast and chorus take place in February. Previous productions include: Les Miserables Cats, Guys and Dolls, We Will Rock You, Grease, Evita, Footloose and The Addams Family.
We have several choirs, available for pupils at all stages to join. All they need is a love of choral singing (or the willingness to get involved at least!). From the youngest to most advanced, we have the Prep School Choir, the Junior School Choir, Form I and II Choir, Senior Mixed Voice Choir and the Chamber Choir. The ability to read music isn’t necessary for the majority of our choirs. There are a number of opportunities to perform locally, nationally and internationally.
The voice is of course not the only instrument we cater for. There are several bands that have proven to be hugely popular too: the Jazz Orchestra, Chamber Music groups (which vary year to year depending upon available instrumentalists), an orchestra for each of the Prep and Junior Schools, two Senior School orchestras, the Pipe Band and the ever-upbeat Ukulele Group.