Summer 2005 - Easter 2006
At the start of the Summer Term 2005 the Schola sang at a Thanksgiving Mass at Our Lady of Victories to mark the 25th anniversaries of Father Vincent Brady and Father Jim Kennedy. Father Vincent, now a Private Secretary to the Papal Nuncio, was formerly Parish Priest at Our Lady of Victories and Chairman of Governors at the Vaughan. He has always been extremely supportive of the Schola and we wish him our warmest congratulations on his recent elevation to Monsignor. The Schola took part in the Spring Concert at St Barnabas Church just down the road from the school, and sang the Saturday Vigil Mass at Westminster Cathedral to mark the closing of the Flower Festival. The boys also sang in the Summer Concert at school.
At the start of the Michaelmas Term 2005 the New Vaughan Hymnal arrived – the Headmaster asked me to edit the new book and the School Chaplain, Father Dominic Allain, provided the prayers. It contains two hundred hymns and Gregorian Chants, as well as the Vatican National Anthem ‘O felix Roma’. The term was as usual an extremely busy one; some of the Tenors and Basses took part in an Organ Recital which I gave at Westminster Cathedral in September. They sang the Gregorian themes upon which the organ music was based. The full Schola sang at the annual Mass for the Papal Knights at Warwick Street and the Trebles sang at an old Vaughanian’s wedding in Sudbury.
The early part of the term was dominated by the Schola’s rehearsals for the recording of Mendelssohn’s Lauda Sion and other choral works at Ampleforth Abbey. The recording took place during half term and the boys were superb and utterly professional, maintaining high standards and thorough concentration throughout the gruelling three-hour sessions. It is a particular credit to them that the Tenors and Basses sang with no professional support whatsoever. The Altos were joined by a professional Counter Tenor which is more than reasonable considering the extra time that young alto voices need to mature. However, the Altos and our Counter Tenors have developed so much that they are now more than capable of holding their own. The finished recording, ably accompanied by Mr Evans and engineered and produced to perfection by Justin Lowe and Antony Pitts, is a real treasure and testament to what these boys are capable of. This recording, along with our others, is selling extremely well both through the Catholic Truth Society and St Paul’s Multimedia by Westminster Cathedral.
The Schola sang at the opening of our wonderful New Music Building. We are all truly grateful to Mr Price for seeing this incredible project through and providing us with a beautiful Song School which is the envy of many choirmasters who have visited it. The choir sang at the St Cecilia Concert at St Paul’s, Hammersmith and at Speech Day. The launch of the new CD was marked by a liturgical performance of the Lauda Sion during Exposition and Benediction at St James’s, Spanish Place. We were grateful to the Rector, Father Terry Phipps, an Old Vaughanian and ex-member of the Schola, for giving us this opportunity to sing the Mendelssohn in such an appropriate context, and above all, in such a beautiful setting.
The Christmas season was especially hectic with the Trebles taking part in a record sixteen Carol services and concerts. These included appearances at the Dorchester Hotel during the famous afternoon tea, a Carol Concert at the Oriental Club and of course the popular candlelit Carol Service at Our Lady of Victories.
I found myself on Jury Service in January and so missed my first ever service, the School Mass for Epiphany but my shoes were filled most ably by Mr Price. The Lent Term 2006 was dominated by the Music Tour to the United States which the Schola took part in. The tour is recounted elsewhere, but I will just say here that it was an incredible trip and undoubtedly the best tour I have been on. The legendary Mr Price once again surpassed himself and put together an amazing experience which boys and staff alike will never forget.
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