The Space, our performing arts centre, is a resource for Sevenoaks School and the wider community, not only in supporting our high quality music and drama provision with first-class teaching, recording and performance facilities but also with the potential to be a major venue for the arts in the South East, including the best concert hall between the South Bank and the South Coast.

The Space was designed by Tim Ronalds Architects and has won several awards: the Commercial & Public Access category in the 2010 Wood Awards, Best Education Building in the 2010 Brick Awards, and an RIBA Award (South East Region) in 2011.

The Space was opened by Professor Barry Ife, Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, at 7pm on Tuesday 27 April 2010, before the inaugural gala concert, when the clarinettist Emma Johnson MBE, a former Sevenoaks student, performed with current pupils.

Emma Johnson

Emma Johnson attended the Sixth Form of Sevenoaks School during the 1980s. In 1984, while she was still at school, she won the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition and was a medal winner in the Eurovision Young Musician. Later she was to be a winner of the Young Concert Artist Auditions in New York.

Emma read English Literature and Music at Pembroke College, Cambridge and subsequently pursued an international career as a solo clarinettist, giving recitals, broadcasts and guest appearances in many different countries. She has performed in Europe, the USA and the Far East, as well as in Africa and Australia. Emma is also in demand as a recitalist and chamber musician and has been invited to direct from the clarinet and also to conduct orchestras such as the London Mozart Players and the Royal Philharmonic.

Described as ‘Britain's favourite clarinettist’ by the Times, Emma has recorded numerous CDs and, following a period as Professor of Clarinet at the Royal College of Music, enjoys working with students in masterclasses. She also takes an interest in contemporary composers.

The first woman to be made an Honorary Fellow of Pembroke College, she is a Patron of the childhood cancer charity, ClicSargent and was awarded the MBE in 1996 for services to music.

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