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A Fabulous Medley of Choirs at the RHS Choirs’ Concert

04 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by theroyalhospitalschool in School News

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barbershop group, chamber choir, chapel choir, choir, choir concert, music at rhs, RHS, rhs choir, rhs concert, RHS Music, show choir, singing, suffolk concert, the royal hospital school

On the evening of Saturday 29 March the combined vocal forces of the Royal Hospital School assembled in the Chapel for the first Choirs’ Concert of its kind, featuring not only the Chapel Choir but also the Show Choir, Chamber Choir and Barbershop Group. The evening, which was masterfully compèred by Head of Singing Dominic Peckham, began with a spellbinding performance of Dobrinka Tabakova’s highly atmospheric anthem Praise, sung from the organ loft by the Chapel Choir and conducted by William Saunders, Director of Music. The audience were seated in the east end of Chapel facing the back, an innovation that enabled much greater communication between them and the Choir. The first half continued with a mix of newer music and some sacred choral classics, including Howard Goodall’s much loved setting of Psalm 23 and CV Stanford’s vigorous Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem, and there were most impressive solo performances from Taylor Godfrey (soprano) and Ben Banks (organ). The Choir sounded really superb in their new location and it was a joy to hear the fabulous colours of our Grand Organ used to accompany them.

The Show Choir, led by Assistant Director of Music Alice Reidy, opened the second half of the concert with a rousing rendition of Pharell Williams’ Happy‘ from the front of Chapel. The lighter, secular atmosphere continued with the triumphant appearance of the Barbershop Group, directed by Christian White, Head of Sixth Form, singing two close harmony classics with great accuracy, style and panache. The highlight for many, however, will have been the performance of the Chamber Choir, conducted by Alice Reidy, who sang two extremely poignant pieces of music: Benjamin Britten’s Hymn to the Virgin and the late Sir John Tavener’s The Lamb, the latter favourite proving especially moving in light of the composer’s recent death. Both of these are technically and musically testing and the Choir rose to the challenge with sensitivity and aplomb. Dominic Peckham then took charge; first leading the Chamber Choir in an exquisitely expressive interpretation of Byrd’s Ave Verum Corpus and then, in perhaps the climax of the evening, bringing all the performers and audience to their feet in a thrilling “mash-up” of Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall and Queen’s I want it all, among others. To close the concert with all who had participated, both performers and audience, joining together in song was a joyous end to a wonderful evening.

Alex Hannard, Harvey Crallan, Sam Banks and Tom Brown
Alex Hannard, Harvey Crallan, Sam Banks and Tom Brown
Chamber Choir
Chamber Choir
Chapel Choir perform on the balcony
Chapel Choir perform on the balcony
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Beautiful performance by Chamber Choir at Langham Hall in aid of Cancer Research UK

04 Wednesday Dec 2013

Posted by theroyalhospitalschool in School News

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Cancer Research UK, chamber choir, langham hall, music at rhs, RHS, rhs choir, RHS Music, the royal hospital school

On Friday 29 November the Chamber Choir visited Langham Hall in Essex to perform at a fundraising event for Cancer Research UK.

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They performed a varied programme including music by the School’s Music Society Patron, John Rutter, modern arrangements of popular songs by Sting and Billy Joel and other Advent music.

Chamber Choir at Langham

The event organiser, Roy Chapman, praised the choir on their performance and claimed that their singing “brought a tear to his eye and sent a shiver down his spine” and went on to say how he was excited to experience the talent that exists amongst these young people.

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Choir Tour of Northern Germany

01 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by theroyalhospitalschool in School News

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chapel choir tour, music at rhs, RHS, rhs chapel choir, rhs choir, RHS Music, the royal hospital school, the royal hospital school chapel choir

Earlier this Summer the Royal Hospital School Chapel Choir visit Northern Germany and choristers Sally and Lucy Watson have recounted their time on tour:

St Marien kirche, Rendsburg, after an encore

At St Marien kirche, Rendsburg, after an encore

 

Breaking up from School for the summer holidays at 5pm the previous day, many of us hoped not to see the clock tower for another ten weeks. But not for the Chapel Choir!! Some out of bed even earlier than in term time, we congregated at the music school at 0830 the next morning.

After collecting all our robes (even for the tenors and basses) and music, the Choir travelled by coach to London Luton Airport. Flying to Hamburg, we got on another coach and headed to the first rehearsal of many, in a round church in Hamburg. Then to the hostel at Horner Renbahn to get settled, and after having our evening meal, we had free time, which was used for unpacking and exploring the hostel.

Monday
With a lot of mumbling of how even the second day of the holidays was as early a wake up as at school, we had breakfast at 7.30 with surprisingly few people turning up later. From the hostel we travelled to Miniatur Wunderland, the largest miniature railway, modelled on Germany, even with aeroplanes taking off and landing from an airport! We travelled to our first concert in Rendsburg, to a full audience and had our evening meal at a pizzeria in the square afterwards.

Oli Moore and Taylor Godfrey

Oli Moore & Taylor Godfrey at the Model Railway

Tuesday
After making our packed lunches, we went to Hamburg Harbour to go on a boat trip up and down the river. There was even an English-speaking guide to tell us about the tourist attractions! Mr Saunders then showed us a tunnel under the riverbed that we had just been over. In the afternoon, we travelled to Itzehoe, where we had some shopping time before Tuesday’s concert. As we went into the church, there was a man who wanted the Choir’s autographs. We all felt famous, especially in a different country! We sang to a full audience, courtesy of the organisers of the church who advertised the concerts very well. We then had supper in the adjoining church hall in the town, prepared for us by the church ladies.

After the concert in Itzehoe

After the concert in Itzehoe with two appreciative members of the audience!

Wednesday
We took a short tube journey for our third and fourth concerts, both of which were in Hamburg. The first was at St Michaels Hauptkirche, where we went to have a rehearsal, before climbing the church tower. There were lots of steps to the top, an unreliable count of 442 was mentioned, and when we got to the top you could see a spectacular 360° view of the whole of Hamburg. After doing our shortest concert at St Michaels, we went on a route march to St Petri’s, which was ‘just round the corner…’ This seemed to be about five miles away! We were allowed free time for lunch and a bit of shopping before the rehearsal. In the middle of the concert in St Petri’s, we were joined by a howling protestor as she took stage at the head of the nave in the church, facing us in the organ gallery, twenty feet above her. Mr Crompton didn’t seem very shocked that she ‘only hit the same note as us once’ and he also said that ‘she must have thought ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ was being held here!’ After exiting the church and standing on the street outside, a couple of people thought the protestor was coming back again as a scream was heard not too far down the street… thankfully she wasn’t, and we went back to the hostel for the major event of the year – the RHS talent show – followed by supper. All acts participated, from singing with a piano accompaniment to weightlifting and rubik cube races, which had become the craze of the week.

Performing in St Petri Hauptkirche 2

Performing in St Petri Hauptkirche

Thursday
The next day we travelled by coach to a small town called Lüneberg, which had been rebuilt to the same original plans after being bombed in the Second World War, also where Field Marshal Montgomery signed the German surrender in 1945. We were allowed shopping time before travelling to Winsen, where our final concert was held, in a red brick Lutherian building, with the warmest of welcomes from a very appreciative audience. Quoting Mrs Godfrey, ‘we saved the best for last.’ We were then taken to the hall next to the church and were treated to a really good supper made by the village community.

Peter Crompton after conducting the RHS Choir

Peter Crompton after conducting the choir for the final time

Friday
It was our last day in Hamburg, and we were allowed to shop in the morning, before going back to the hostel and collecting our bags and heading to the airport for the flight back to Luton.

The Choir sang five concerts over the week, which were all well attended by the public, all thanks to the brilliant work of the church organisers and wardens who advertised the concerts in the local towns. Huge thanks must go to all the teachers who travelled with the Choir, especially Mr Saunders for organising the trip, and of course Mr Crompton, who conducted the Choir, and made everyone feel welcome. It was also special for Mr Crompton because it was his last time conducting and touring with the RHS choir. The tour was a great success and we all wish Mr Saunders best of luck with taking on Director of Music next year. Also, best wishes to Mr Crompton, for a happy and Stoke City filled retirement!

Sally & Lucy Watson

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A Standing Ovation at the Choir Concert

17 Friday May 2013

Posted by theroyalhospitalschool in School News

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choir, choir concert, Music, Peter Crompton, RHS, rhs chamber choir, rhs chapel choir, rhs choir, RHS Music, royal hospital shcool, the royal hospital school

On Saturday 11 May the Royal Hospital School hosted their annual Choir Concert. The Concert was a roaring success with a standing ovation and the large audience demanding an encore. This was an extra special concert as it was Peter Crompton’s last Choir Concert as Director of Music at RHS.

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As has become customary, the first half of the Concert was performed from the choir stalls with a range of performances. These included unaccompanied anthems by Thomas Tallis and an exquisite duet by Jessica Hazelton and Hannah Ilori who sang “I waited for the Lord” by Mendelssohn. Jessica also sang Errol Garner’s famous song “Misty” while accompanied by Elizabeth Ponsonby on the saxophone. There were two items by the patron of RHS music, composer John Rutter, who is closely associated with the Royal Hospital School chapel choir. Olivia Peacock distinguished herself at the grand organ in a solo based on the hymn “Now that we all our God” by Karg-Elert. The chamber choir finished the first half with performances of “Streets of London” and the famous “Rhythm of Life” by Sammy Davis Jr.

The second half was performed from the organ gallery and featured great anthems, such as “Eternal Father Strong to Save” by the former organist of Liverpool Cathedral, Noel Rawsthorne. This was specially composed for Peter Crompton and the Chapel Choir. The highlight of the second half was the world premiere performance of “Exalt us with your Love” by Will Todd and commissioned by the Royal Hospital School to celebrate the Tercentenary.

The concert finished with Parry’s great anthem “I was glad”; a fitting conclusion in the 60th year since Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey. As the audience demanded an encore the choir responded with “God be in my head” by Philip Wilby.

All together this was a highly successful performance by both the chapel and chamber choirs. Peter Crompton will be performing in one final concert before retiring from the post of Director of Music, which will be the ‘Toccata Spectacular’ organ recital on Saturday 22 June at 1pm. For more information contact music@royalhospitalschool.org or 01473 326222 or www.rhscommunity.co.uk

 

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Talented School Choir to perform specially commissioned piece by Will Todd

02 Thursday May 2013

Posted by theroyalhospitalschool in School News

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chapel choir, Music, rhs choir, RHS Music, rhs royal hospital school chapel choir, royal hospital school, the royal hospital school

The talented Royal Hospital School Chapel Choir will be performing on Saturday 11 May at 7.45pm in the School Chapel. The 100-strong choir was described by the acclaimed composer John Rutter as “one of the largest, finest and most committed choirs I have ever found in a school”.

The choir of pupils aged 11-18 is directed by experienced conductor and Director of Music, Peter Crompton, and Head of Academic Music and organist, William Saunders. The Choir have performed widely both in the UK and abroad, most recently in St Paul’s Cathedral and at St Peter’s Basilica within the Vatican in Rome.

The Concert will include a specially commissioned piece by the composer Will Todd to celebrate the School’s Tercentenary. Tickets are £7 per adult and U18s free of charge. Book online at www.rhscommunity.co.uk, telephone 01473 326222 or email music@royalhospitalschool.org

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The Royal Hospital School Chapel Choir at St Paul’s Cathedral

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