It gives us great pleasure to formally announce that St George’s College Chamber Choir have been selected to compete in the semi-finals of the BBC Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year Competition, 2012.  Director of Music, Tansy Castledine, is thrilled with the choir’s recent success; “This is wonderful news.  This is the first time that the choir at St George’s has entered a singing competition and so to win a place in the semis of a national competition is an incredible testament to the children, their hard work, enthusiasm, determination, and sheer love of singing.”

Just six senior choirs from across the UK have been chosen to take part in this prestigious competition which is celebrating its tenth year. The concluding stages of the competition will be filmed in February 2012 at The Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays, opposite BBC North at MediaCityUK. The Chamber Choir will be judged by vocal coach David Grant, conductor and choirmaster Suzi Digby, and the People’s Tenor Russell Watson. The final programmes will be presented by Aled Jones and will air on BBC One in April 2012.

The Chamber Choir entry consisted of the traditional Irish hymn Be Thou My Vision arranged by Steven Grahl and Paul Hart’s arrangement of the spiritual Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel? Comments received from the BBC on the Chamber Choir’s entry remarked that with atmospheric phrasing, well-blended tone and confident ensemble they are “a singer’s choir”.
 

The news comes after a string of successful projects and events including the recording and sale of the College’s Christmas CD, I Am the Day, raising over £8000 for St Joseph Africa Aid, and the exhilarating ten day tour of California which took place in February 2011.

The Chamber Choir have been working exceptionally hard throughout the term singing Duruflé’s Requiem in November and performing in three Christmas engagements including a concert at SS Mary and Joseph, Poplar, as well as joining the College Choir for the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols and the Christmas Carol Concert in the College chapel. Future projects for next term include Haydn’s Creation with the College’s professional Sinfonia and a tour to Rome at Easter.

We wish the Chamber Choir every success at this exciting time!