Music and performing arts centre

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Our current music school was built in the 1960s when few young Dragons took up an instrument and music was broadly recreational. It has served us well but has now reached the end of its useful life, with its limited capacity and inaccessible position on site. Our young Dragons lose valuable minutes of practise, lesson and play time as a result. Our new purpose-built Music and Performing Arts Centre is well positioned, spacious and innovative. We broke ground in December 2022 and the build is on target to be completed during Spring Term 2024.

At the Dragon, the breadth and scale of our music and performing arts tuition is immense. A remarkable four out of five children play an instrument (almost 500!) and each week we deliver nearly 800 individual music lessons. Every term, we also deliver a packed programme of ensemble performances, concerts and plays, and encourage all young Dragons to take part.

The new Music and Performing Arts Centre is situated adjacent to the Lynam Hall, combining traditional architecture and contemporary design. It has been sensitively planned to integrate into our beautiful north Oxford location. Built with a range of purposes in mind, from individual rehearsals to group workshops and masterclasses, and with state-of-the-art recording facilities, our young Dragons will also have the opportunity to learn the mastery behind the music. 

The Recital Hall
The Recital Hall will be situated adjacent to Lynam Hall and will provide a warm and welcoming space to help our young Dragons develop their skills and confidence by performing to audiences in an intimate setting.
The room will be fitted with retractable bleacher benching to ensure that the space can be used flexibly for rehearsals as well as a variety of events, workshops and outreach activities for local schools.

The Recording Studio
The Music and Performing Arts Centre will feature an impressive, acoustically engineered recording studio. This will contain state-of-the-art equipment and be used to make high quality recordings of the wide range of bands, ensembles and choirs at the Dragon. It will also enrich our curriculum and give our musicians an early introduction to the art of recording, music technology and production.

Rehearsal, Ensemble and Practice Rooms
The new building will also feature a wide range of ensemble rooms, classrooms for curriculum learning, departmental rooms and 26 soundproofed individual practice rooms. These dedicated areas will give our pupils the space they need to practice, listen and compose music. Instrument storage will also be positioned throughout the building to ensure quick turnover between lessons.

The Wellbeing Garden
In a busy and dynamic school environment, children benefit when they have access to quiet space. A south-facing, landscaped garden will be situated between a cloistered walkway and Lane House, and will provide a calm and picturesque location for children to relax in. Featuring amphitheater seating and an adjacent foyer, the garden will also be used for creative performances and will give pupils an opportunity to showcase their talents to audiences in a unique outdoor setting. The garden will also provide the School with an ideal venue to host Dragon community events, from social gatherings for current families to Old Dragon reunions and social impact activities.