While the rest of the school was shutting up shop for the Easter Holidays, the Senior Chamber Choir still had an important item in their calendar: their tour to Oxford.
Students and staff arrived at school for an all-important rehearsal in the morning of Friday 25th March to sing through the songs they know and sight-read the Psalms of the day. We then took our traditional choir tour coach, this time in the form of the Oxford Tube, to drop us just in time for lunch.
On this tour, we were delighted to visit and perform in the beautiful site of Queens’ College, Oxford. We were humbled to be given a guided tour by Prof. Owen Rees, Fellow in Music and Organist and Conductor of the College Chapel Choir. He showed us the beautiful delights of the buildings and grounds around the college and led us through the history of the institution, from 14th Century roots to modern day. We then had a valuable question and answer session about Choral Awards at the University (which Prof. Rees oversees) and organ scholarships, learning all about the process of applying and life as a student at the University. We were then lucky to have a masterclass rehearsal with Prof. Rees leading and giving us a taste of what the choral scholars at the College receive each week. The choir took their places in the choir stalls within the stunning Queens’ Chapel and rehearsed their music with Miss Vickery at the helm in the gorgeous acoustic.
Donning choir dresses and brimming with excitement, the Senior Chamber Choir sang the Evensong service, attended by parents, friends and the wider community of Oxford. The singers relished the opportunity and sang their hearts out, leading the act of worship with skill and respect. Readings were superbly taken up by Grace and Sophie and the students had a great taste of the life of a professional chapel choir for the day.
It was a long day of hard work and all deserved the time-tested treat of a post-gig pizza. We settled in Zizzi’s and nattered away until it was time to take the coach all the way back to London late in the evening, to truly start the Easter break.
We are hugely grateful for all the faculty at Queens’ College for their extremely warm welcome. Thank you to all the music staff – Miss Houlder, Miss Murata and Mr Mercer, all for singing along in the service and for accompanying the students as they enjoyed the beautiful sites of the city. A huge thank you must go to Miss Vickery for organising the trip and for leading the choir with her typical musical rigour and humour. Most of all, thank you to all the students for their endurance and talents to finish the term of music-making on such a high before then bringing the wonderful world of FHS Music to Oxford!
Music Department
