Review of 2024-25

The Schola has enjoyed another rich and active year. Its most significant undertaking was the choir’s two-week tour of Australia in February, during which they performed in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. The choir sang in some of Australia’s finest cathedrals and concert venues, giving concerts and singing liturgies that were both spiritually and musically uplifting. It was a truly unforgettable experience for all involved.

In addition to this tour, the Schola has continued its professional commitments at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, appearing in productions of La bohème and Turandot. The choir sang three times at Westminster Cathedral this year, and offered a deeply moving performance of Bach’s St John Passion at Holy Trinity, Sloane Square just before Holy Week.

The performance calendar began early in the academic year, with the Schola and Senior Brass Ensemble bringing great dignity and musical splendour to the School’s celebration of Foundation Day at Westminster Cathedral in early September. Shortly thereafter, our pupils participated in a memorable concert at Southwark Cathedral, performing alongside singers from Eton College, Westminster School, and the exceptional Drakensberg Boys Choir from South Africa. It was a particular joy to collaborate once more with the Drakensberg Choir, .  continuing a warm tradition of cultural and musical exchange. Their previous visit in 2019, when their boys were  hosted by Vaughan families left a lasting impression. We hope one day to visit their school set in the beautiful mountains of KwaZulu‑Natal.

In October, the Schola welcomed visiting students from Dilworth School in New Zealand. Together, they presented a beautiful joint concert at St John the Baptist Church, Holland Road. In July we were similarly privileged to perform alongside the Young Voices of Melbourne, an outstanding youth choir from Australia. These international collaborations remain a highlight of our musical year, and further such partnerships are planned for the coming academic year.

The Christmas season brought with it a full calendar of festive performances. Boys sang carols at numerous venues, including the Tower of London, Brown’s Hotel, The Dorchester, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, and—most hearteningly—a return to the retirement home Nazareth House in Hammersmith, our first visit since the pandemic. A particularly exciting moment came when Classic FM invited the boys to launch their Christmas season, singing live to the nation early one Monday morning.

Throughout the year, the Schola has fulfilled its primary liturgical role by providing music for the school’s Wednesday morning Masses. The repertoire this term alone has included works by Palestrina, Victoria, Byrd, Mozart, Schubert, Mawby, JC Bach, JS Bach, Berkley, Schütz, Saint-Saëns, and many others—testament to the choir’s range and the school’s continued commitment to sacred music of the highest quality.