THE Royal Hospital School (RHS) in Holbrook, Suffolk, is once again hosting its annual Festival of the Arts to showcase the extraordinary breadth of talent and creativity across its school community. With events spanning music, art, design, literature and performance, this year's programme is running from 7th to 23rd June, bringing together pupils, staff, parents and guests in a vibrant celebration of the arts.

The festival opened on Saturday 7th June with a special RCO Organ Study Day and Organ Recital by the distinguished Katherine Dienes-Williams who is Organist and Master of the Choristers at Guildford Cathedral. Held in the RHS Chapel, the event welcomed both pupils and visiting musicians to explore the school's historic organ.

On Monday 9th June, pupils had the pleasure of a visit from acclaimed children's author Ross Welford. Taking place in the Burns Recital Hall, Ross captivated pupils with insights into his writing process and the magic of storytelling.

The Art, Design and Media Exhibition was officially launched with a buzzing Preview Evening on Friday, 13 June at the Jellicoe Design Centre. Guests enjoyed refreshments and a first look at the remarkable work produced by our Year 11 and 13 pupils, spanning fine art, design technology and digital media. The exhibition remained open to the public on Saturday 14th June, inviting the wider community to experience the innovation and artistic excellence nurtured at RHS.

That evening, the Holbrook Choral Society and RHS choirs came together for the Summer Concert at St Mary's Church, East Bergholt. The performance was a moving journey through classical and contemporary choral works, met with standing ovations from a packed audience.

On Sunday, 15 June, families gathered for the Musical Picnic in the Park, featuring lively performances from the Bands of the Royal Air Force Regiment and RHS musicians. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the school grounds, it was a relaxed and joyful afternoon of music and community.

Speaking on the Arts Festival and events so far, Harriet Barber, Head of Art at RHS commented: "The Festival of the Arts at RHS has been a fantastic celebration of the incredible creativity and talent within our school community. It's been inspiring to see pupils across all year groups express themselves through such a wide range of artistic disciplines. The enthusiasm and energy at each event so far has been truly uplifting, and we're proud to be hosting a festival that places the arts at the heart of school life."

As the festival continues, RHS looks ahead with great excitement to Gig Night III on Saturday, 21 June at 7pm, to be held in the Burns Recital Hall. This popular event promises an electrifying night of live music from RHS pupils, featuring solo acts, bands and crowd favourites. Audiences can expect high-energy performances and a fantastic atmosphere as we continue to celebrate pupil talent in all its forms.

The festival will conclude on Monday, 23 June with Notes and Nibbles, a lunchtime recital in the Burns Recital Hall. This final event will offer a relaxed musical showcase accompanied by refreshments, an ideal way to round off a memorable fortnight of the arts at RHS.