Choirs and musicians from King’s College School, Wimbledon, were welcomed by Winchelsea Parish Church and Winchelsea Corporation for a very enjoyable charity concert entitled Sure on this Shining Night on Sunday, March 5, in the church of St Thomas the Martyr, Winchelsea. A full house, many coming from the Wimbledon area, welcomed the choristers, the Director of Music Mr Daniel Phillips and the conductor, Mr Peter Hatch, who lives in Winchelsea.
King’s College School has an ambitious programme of orchestral, choral, jazz and chamber music. The choirs have held performances at a number of prestigious venues, such as St Paul’s Cathedral, St George’s Chapel, Windsor and the Royal College of Music. A number of pupils have won scholarships to Oxford and Cambridge, whilst others have gained performance diplomas (Dip ABRSM). Three violinists hold the diploma in the school at the moment. A new music school is due for completion in early 2018.
The concert included performances from the King’s Coro Choir (all the choir members), the Cantate choir (girls) and the Kapella choir (boys). All performed to a very high standard, and the variety in the programme was a pleasure. There were four soloists, violinist Zoe Zagorac, pianist Hugo Williams, Ellie Tousakkis playing two pieces for ’cello and violinist Felicity Porter.
A variety of works were featured, opening with Va, pensiero from Nabucco by G Verdi and including the title song of the concert, Sure on this Shining Night, No III from Nocturnes by M Lauridsen. The resounding finale of the programme by the Coro Choir featured a medley from The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, arranged by E Lojeski.
The arrangement of the programme offered an opportunity for all the choirs and the instrumentalists to show their enthusiasm and their musicality. It was a real pleasure to listen and participate in hearing them all. Daniel Phillips and Peter Hatch are to be congratulated on the organisation, content and performances.
The monies raised by this event will be used towards the Winchelsea Corporation Court Hall Appeal – the Court Hall, built in the 15th century, is now in need of major repair – and to the cleaning and refurbishment of the church organ, which dates from 1931 and was installed by JW Walker & Sons Ltd. It is hoped to carry out this work in 2018 or 2019.
Photo Gillian Roder