Pupils are celebrating today after receiving an astonishing 43 offers from either the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge – the highest number in the College’s history. We are immensely proud of our pupils - a huge congratulations!
On Wednesday, the Chamber Choir were treated to an amazing masterclass and concert by choral group Apollo 5, all five of whom are clearly very passionate about theirmusic, resulting in them becoming the incredible group they are today.
Their unusual configuration is partially responsible for their many successes, as it helps to produce a balanced tone throughout both the male and female section of their group, which was very refreshing.
In the afternoon, after a short preview of the concert in the evening, Apollo 5 taught the choir more about the fundamentals of choral singing, including high quality warm-ups, posture, projection and breathing technique.
The choir then worked on expression and dynamics and how to effectively perform lyrics to produce a more meaningful and impactful performance. They were offered some insightful feedback on their singing of God is Gone Up by Gerald Finzi and Sing to the Moon by Laura Mvula. This was followed by a Q&A with the five singers about their experiences in the choral world, and the opportunities for singing beyond school years.
After a break for dinner, we were treated to a hugely varied programme of choral works covering four centuries worth of music in the evening’s concert, from British renaissance polyphony by William Byrd to stunning renditions of more modern numbers, including Your Song by Elton John!
The Chamber Choir opened the second half with God is Gone Up, and we were joined by Apollo 5 in Sing to the Moon, before they concluded the concert with a captivating
rendition of Homeward Bound by Marta Keen.
A huge thank you to Apollo 5 for inspiring us. Their visit was such a treat and we hope they come again!
