now boarding

Was 3rd desk, now promoted to 2nd desk.

What awesome news today.

After the excellent performances of the Monteverdi Vespers on Tuesday, The Director of Music wrote to us to say that Tom (yr. 4)along with the two other boys (yr. 5) that started together as Probationers nearly two school years ago to be made up from 3rd to 2nd desk choristers. 

As he says...

This is another little rite of passage for a Chorister and a sign that they have reached another milestone in their career (here at St. Paul's). In practical terms it means very little change. They will sing Evensong on Fridays with the other senior Choristers and on Tuesdays their rehearsal their rehearsal will start at 0810 rather than 0750.

There are no 3rd desk exeats in the summer term but I should also point out that they will not be eligible for these from next term onwards. We do still arrange full chorister exeats from time to time as detailed in the Chorister Diary each term.

From tomorrow onwards they will also be able to wear their medals on Sundays and special days.

Thank you very much for all the support that you have shown to the Choir and the School.

...

Medals? Desks? Details to follow; I'll need to ask Tom.

Just another day at choir school...

Here's Tom and one of his fellow choristers playing about on the grand piano in the school hall. Playing is a relative term as whatever it was they were playing was beautiful. 

 
You only have to hear the sounds of music practice drifting out into the city, (OK so maybe a trombone doesn't exactly drift, possibly punctuate) to understand that music is such an intrinsic part of their lives but it feels it's a very natural part too - and I'm not just referring to singing in the Cathedral eight times a week excluding rehearsals. For the boys it seems as natural as kicking a ball, around reading a book or playing on their DS.

By the end of their 6 years in school they're up to grades 6, 7 or even 8 in singing and their other two instruments which sets them up very well for music scholarships and of course a possible career in music.

Back to the two boys playing.

They were actually just relaxing before 'going over' to the Cathedral to perform in the City of London Festival performance of Monteverdi's Verpers (1610) with 'His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts'. A beautiful and highly technical set of pieces first performed exactly 400 years ago. The boys performed as part of the full Cathedral Choir and three soloists. All instruments in the orchestra were period. Wonderful.

Just another day in choir school.