The highlights of 2013

2013 was a very successful year for the Vaughan's Music Department. Some of the many highlights included:

• Our annual concert with Southbank Sinfonia in February, which included a performance of Schumann's First Symphony.

• Three wonderful masterclasses, with jazz legend Arturo Sandoval, world renowned counter tenor Iestyn Davies (pictured) and with James O'Donnell, Master of the Choristers and Organist of Westminster Abbey.

• Winning an Oscar! Or at least singing on the score that won Best Score at the Oscars, Mychael Danna's wonderful score for Life Of Pi.  It was quite a day too when composer Mychael and the director of Life and Pi, the remarkable Ang Le, visited the School to thank the boys for their work on the film.

• Bach's St Matthew Passion at Easter, where thirteen pupils performed solo roles in a wonderful performance of this greatest of all musical pinnacles.

• Boys from the Vaughan have taken part in more opera during 2013 than ever before. This year boys have sung in Tosca, Gloriana, Die Zauberflote and Turandot at Covent Garden and in the Magic Flute and La Boheme at English National Opera. 

•  The Schola's tour to Poland at Easter where the choir sang live on Polish National Television and Radio at the Mass for Divine Mercy, a Polish National occasion.

• The Schola's recording of its new CD, In Honour of Our Lady, at Douai Abbey in June. 

• In October the Big Band travelled to Hong Kong for a series of concerts.