11 October 2017
Woldingham welcomed seven Junior School Choirs, and over 200 children, on Tuesday for our second Choir Festival. Our teachers took the pupils through a carousel of musical sessions to develop voice, rhythm and performance skills. The choirs were enthusiastic participants, bubbling through water in unison, humming as though at a Formula 1 race and responding to each other through clapping. The schools were accompanied by Woldingham’s Music Scholars who acted as guides and support.
The event culminated in a performance to parents, schools and Woldingham’s teachers. Our 600-seat auditorium was packed and the choirs performed impeccably to rapturous applause. The choirs came together, after performing their individual pieces, to sing a beautiful rendition of O Taste and See by Vaughan Williams.
The adjudicator, Ian Belsey has spent over forty years in show business and is one of the world’s leading performers in light opera, particularly Gilbert & Sullivan. This year’s winners were Hornsby House with Fix You by Chris Martin, and the runners up were The Study with Great Day. The Hornsby House performance was selected for its beautiful tone and control. The expanse of styles was also evident this year with choirs perfoming: When I Grow Up (St Francis’), Sing by Gary Barlow (Woodlea), Mr Sandman (Cumnor House), Something Inside So Strong (The Roche) and Al Shlosha d’Varim (Dolphin).
Director of Music, John Hargreaves, said ‘I was amazed by the breadth and depth of musicianship displayed by the Junior Choirs and delighted to see over 200 young singers at our school. I hope that the Woldingham Junior Choir Festival provided inspiration, guidance and enjoyment to all participants.’