On 7 December, parents, staff and friends of the College congregated in the magnificent and historic surroundings of Guildford Cathedral, for an uplifting service of Nine Lessons and Carols, directed and performed by the College Music Department.
This festive musical celebration is one of the few occasions in the year where the entire College community is invited to come together. This year we were able to return to Guildford, after the cathedral underwent extensive refurbishment.
As first year music student April West expressed, “It was fantastic to be able to sing outstanding repertoire in such a grand venue alongside all of my friends from Choral Society and Chamber Choir. It was particularly special for students and staff to perform the readings. I felt very privileged and delighted to have been part of a magical and successful start to the Christmas festivities!”
Traditional carols such as ‘Once in royal David’s city’ and ‘Hark! The herald angels sing’, which brought the evening to a rousing close, were blended beautifully with less well known and newer works including ‘Angelus ad Virginem’, by Ben Dowsett, Curriculum Manager for music which was especially commissioned for the occasion.
Principal Simon Jarvis, who read the Ninth Lesson, commented “Magnificent - absolutely magnificent! I enjoyed every minute of the service. It was a brilliant testament to the music department’s incredible ability to create extraordinary music, harnessing the talents of so many wonderful young people, supporting excellence and nurturing aspiration.”
Harry White, Curriculum Manager for music said, “This was a wonderful, affirming and deeply moving evening. The standard reached by both choral society and chamber choir in such a short space of time was astonishing. Their musicianship, commitment and sheer love for performance was tangible and they should be rightly proud of themselves. To hear the voices of nearly 130 students soaring beautifully around the cathedral is something we will all remember for a very long time.”
