St John’s College hosted its inaugural Battle of the Bands on September 20.

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Battle of the Bands is the Preparatory and College Contemporary Live Music Competition.
The talented young musicians battled it out on stage, showcasing their creativity and passion for original contemporary music.

The competition gave them a rare opportunity to perform live, gain stage experience, receive feedback from an industry panel, and be inspired to keep writing and performing.
“The quality of entries into our first Battle of the Bands far exceeded our expectations. The finalists are polished, energetic, and full of ideas, and it’s exciting to see contemporary music thriving at this level,” said Jonathan Thorburn, head of contemporary music at St John’s College.

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Bands were selected through video submissions and evaluated on musicality, stage presence, originality, and technical proficiency.

Each entrant also received detailed feedback from the panel, ensuring the competition is a developmental experience as well as a performance opportunity.
“Beyond the competition, this event is about development and encouragement. Every band that entered has received feedback from respected professionals in the industry, which we hope will motivate them to keep performing and growing as musicians,” noted Sash Northey, event organiser.
The winners in both Preparatory and College categories will receive a professional studio recording of one of their tracks at AsAbove Studios.
Marshall Music, Rock School of London, and JDKustoms also sponsored prizes throughout the day.

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