Lionheart students rock the stage at Battle of the Bands competition
Students from across Lionheart Educational Trust secondary schools stepped into the spotlight for the annual Battle of the Bands competition in late January, showcasing their musical talent in front of a packed-out audience of over 200 people.
Now in its fifth year, the event has grown into a real highlight of the Trust calendar. It’s an opportunity created for students to extend their out-of-class enrichment activity and compete with like-minded young people, thanks to the benefit of Lionheart’s wider network of local schools.
The judging panel featured familiar faces from the local music and media scene. Joey Hughes from Leicester Community Radio, Wayne Tobin from a Coalville music store and academy, Simon Kirk from local rock band Midnight Angel and Claire Shortland from electronic band Sum True.
Together they scored each act on musical ability, stage presence, band cohesion and audience participation. While the final scores were not released, the top three in both categories were only separated by a few points, reflecting the high standards and commitment of all those involved.
The results were…
Juniors
Taking first place were ‘None Of The Above’ from Humphrey Perkins School, who delivered lively performances of Some Might Say and Buddy Holly. Their confidence and energy made them stand out from the moment they stepped on stage.
In second place came ‘Voltage’, a duo also representing Humphrey Perkins. Their tight playing and clear chemistry impressed the judges. Third place went to ‘Jess and Eden’ from The Newbridge School. Former junior champions, they returned to the competition with another polished performance that earned warm applause from the crowd.
Seniors
‘Black Star’ from Beauchamp College won the senior category with a powerful take on Muse’s Hysteria. ‘The Bee-z’ from Sir Jonathan North Girls’ College finished second after lifting the room with I’m Still Standing and Blame It On The Boogie. Third place went to ‘Innuendo’ from Humphrey Perkins School with Let It Go and I Believe in a Thing Called Love.
Last year, everybody said that the standard of bands was the best yet, but this year, the benchmark was raised higher yet again.
said Performing Arts Technician Jonathan Davison, who organised the event.
Both junior and senior categories were incredibly competitive, and there were performances from bands who did not feature in the top three that would have easily won the trophy in previous Battle of the Bands events.
I'm incredibly proud of every individual who took part in it. What an incredible night
The Results:
Juniors
1 – None of the Above (Humphrey Perkins School)
2 – Voltage (Humphrey Perkins School)
3 – Jess and Eden (The Newbridge School)
Seniors
1 – Black Star (Beauchamp College)
2 – The Bee-z (Sir Jonathan North Girls' College)
3 – Innuendo (Humphrey Perkins School)
Outstanding Individual Performance
La Rae (Sir Jonathan North Girls' College)
Participating schools: Beauchamp College, The Castle Rock School, The Cedars Academy, Humphrey Perkins School, Martin High School, Mercia Academy, The Newbridge School and Sir Jonathan North Girls’ College.
About the author
Lionheart Educational Trust