Junior School singers enjoy memorable music-filled tour
The Junior School’s Year 5 and 6 Choir enjoyed a fabulous and memorable four-day concert tour to Cambridge and Ely.
The pupils heard some of the world’s best choirs sing services in college chapels and give concerts, and the children themselves had two opportunities to perform in Cambridge – in Trinity College Chapel and at the historic St Botolph’s Church.
In Ely Cathedral, the Choir was invited to try out the incredible acoustics in the Lady Chapel – the biggest of its kind in the UK. We then listened to the Choir of Ely Cathedral sing Choral Evensong.
On Saturday, the travelling party had a sunny walking tour through the historic streets of Cambridge and a private tour of Trinity College. The singers then sat in the shade to enjoy a picnic lunch on the Backs at Trinity before their concert in Trinity College Chapel.
The programme included sacred and secular songs from many different genres, rounds, unison and part singing. Despite the heat, the children really rose to the occasion and sang beautifully.
In the evening, after an enjoyable meal at the hotel, they enjoyed a visit to the ten-pin bowling alley.
On Sunday, following a hearty breakfast, the pupils attended Eucharist at St John’s College, where the Chapel Choir has recently opened up to include female singers for the first time in its 353-year history.
This was followed by the opportunity to watch the fabulous spectacle of ‘Singing From The Towers’ at Trinity College. This is a special annual event where the College Choir and the brass players perform from the roofs of the towers which surround Great Court.
On Sunday afternoon, the children gave a wonderful concert in St Botolph’s Church. As on Saturday, many SGJS parents made the journey to hear the children perform and the girls and boys were very grateful for their support. Many Choir members performed beautiful solos, including a lovely rendition of ‘Albinez Tango’, played by violinist Christina.
After the concert, the pupils walked to Queen’s College Chapel to hear Choral Evensong, before enjoying a wonderful meal at Market House restaurant. After dinner they returned to sit on Trinity Backs for the annual ‘Singing On The River’ event, and listened as Trinity’s multi award-winning Choir sang madrigals and arrangements of popular songs from punts on the River Cam.
An opportunity to watch a movie and take part in ‘The Big Quiz’ on our return coach journey rounded off an action-packed, fun-filled, music-filled weekend and gave the children an opportunity to reflect on some of the art, architecture, history, music, sights and sounds they had all enjoyed over the weekend.
It was a weekend to remember, and hopefully be repeated! Bravo to all of the young singers and to everyone involved!
