Percussion Ensembles

CF Music Education Percussion Ensembles have been directed by Celi Johnston since 2003, offering a structured programme for percussion and piano students to develop their ensemble performance skills. The programme consists of three ensembles: beginners, intermediate, and advanced, catering for students of all ages and abilities.

The ensembles rehearse weekly at Whitchurch High School, where they benefit from access to a wide range of both tuned and untuned percussion instruments. The repertoire is diverse, encompassing specific percussion ensemble works, popular arrangements, and original compositions written by senior students.

Members are encouraged to enhance their skills further by joining the percussion sections of other CF Music Education ensembles, fostering a well-rounded musical education.

The CF Music Education Percussion Ensembles have achieved remarkable success, consistently showcasing their talent across prestigious platforms. They have delivered numerous performances at the Regional Festival of Music for Youth, with several ensembles advancing to the National Festival in Birmingham, highlighting their excellence on a national stage. Their impressive track record also includes performances at the Day of Percussion at both the Royal College of Music in London and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Most recently, they had the honour of performing for the renowned percussionist Ray Cooper, a testament to their growing influence and musical artistry in the percussion community.

Please see the below for Percussion Ensembles’ full timetable for 2024-25:

Celi Johnston is a musician and educator with over two decades of experience in music education. She graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2003 and furthered her expertise by completing a postgraduate diploma in Music Therapy.

Since 2003, Celi has been a dedicated ensemble coach and peripatetic percussion tutor with CF Music Education. Her career includes many years as a classroom teacher at Monmouth Comprehensive School, where she also worked with the Gwent Senior Percussion Ensemble. Celi is currently a classroom teacher in the Music Department at Whitchurch High School, a position she thoroughly enjoys as it enables her to collaborate with young musicians in a range of ensembles.