Events Since Christmas

Somehow this Blog has been a little neglected since Christmas so here is a post to catch up with what has been going on since we returned after the holidays.

The first week back to School saw the Schola Cantorum sing an Epiphany Carol Service for the Ordinariate of Walsinhgam at St Mary's Church, Cadogan Street. This was a lovely occasion with a large congregation present. You can hear the Schola singing that evening at the start of this interview with Monsignor Keith Newton about the work of the Ordinariate.

















The Schola has also sung twice for the Saturday Vigil Mass at Westminster Cathedral, singing music Palestrina in January and music by William Byrd in March.

The trebles of the Schola appeared in a concert at St John's, Smith Square at the end of February, singing with the Orion Chamber Orchestra.

The Schola trebles had an unusual treat early in February when they were visited by Hollywood film director Ang Lee, and composer Mychael Danna, who came to thank the boys for their work on the soundtrack of Life of Pi.

The Schola were also to the fore when Southbank Sinfonia visited for their annual collobartion with the Department in February, performing Handel's Coronation Anthems with the orchestra.

The main work that evening was Schumann's wonderful Spring Symphony which our orchestral musicians played alongside the SBS players. This collaboration is always one of the most special things we do all year and this year was no exception.

The Southbank Sinfonia Concert was filmed and there will be clips available soon.

The First Orchestra and other instrumental groups are all busy working for the Spring Concert on Thursday 14 March.

Meanwhile the Big Band has been busy with the Big Band Evening in February one of a number of highlights this term. That evening saw more than three hours of jazz playing with contributions from Junior Big Band, Intermediate Big Band and the Addison Quartet alongside the Big Band itself. Four vocalists joined the Band during the set.

Meanwhile, the Music Competition has been going on with the Heats now held in Piano, Strings and Woodwind. This week sees the Singing Competition. The picture below shows concert pianist Philip Fowke adjudicating at the Piano Competition.