20 June 2019, Isleworth –
On Tuesday 18 June 2019, Isleworth & Syon School hosted the final of the inaugural Hounslow Borough Battle of the Bands competition. All Hounslow secondary schools were invited to take part, with eight schools sending representatives to the final: Chiswick School, Gunnersbury School, The Green School for Girls, The Heathland School, Isleworth & Syon School, Gumley House Convent School, Lampton School and Reach Academy.
The judging panel was made up of representatives from the music industry including Oonagh Barry, head of the Hounslow Music Service, and local MP Ruth Cadbury. It was universally agreed that the standard was high throughout the competition. After much deliberation, the panel awarded the victory to Isleworth & Syon band ‘New Eyes’, featuring Joshua Cherian (Year 10, drums), Dexter Dobel (Year 8, bass), James Ellard (Year 9, piano), Zaki Osahn (Year 9, saxophone), and Hamish Sharp-McClymont (Year 11, vocals and guitar).
Euan Ferguson, Headteacher at Isleworth & Syon, said afterwards, “Tonight has been a fitting celebration of the power of music, and I am grateful to Declan McKeever, our head of music, for organising and running this event on behalf of our partnership of schools. We look forward to collaborating with other schools to make this event bigger and better next year.
“In school, we will continue to offer these opportunities beyond the classroom to each and every one of our students, to give them the chance to experience the power of music as they develop into mature and confident young men.”
New Eyes’ next public performance will be at the Isleworth & Syon Summer Arts Festival on Thursday 4 July, where over 200 students will take part across art, design technology, drama and music. Tickets can still be purchased via www.isleworthsyon.org/summerarts.
Tags: 2018-19, Battle of the Bands, Music
