Royal Russell School Music

'The Choristers'

‘The Choristers’ were founded by Hugh Sutton, Director of Music, in 1996. At this time there were 12 members in the choir. The Choir now numbers approximately 70 students who meet 3 times every week to rehearse. The musical standard of the Choir is very high. Indeed the choir has achieved an excellent reputation for their work and they are very much in demand to perform in the wider community. A number of the choristers are members of the National Youth Choir. Their recent performance of the semi chorus role in Vaughan Williams’ ‘Hodie’ with the Croydon Philharmonic Choir in the Fairfield Halls, Croydon was met with great acclaim. The Choristers were honoured to recently perform Karl Jenkins’ Dies Irae from the Requiem for HRH the Earl of Wessex when he recently visited the school to open the new Performing Arts Centre. Prince Edward was evidently delighted with their performance and spent some time afterwards chatting to the choristers about life in the choir.

The Choir is affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music and the Choristers follow the RSCM ‘Voice for Life’ training scheme. Music is at the heart of life at Royal Russell and the Choristers play a very important role in leading our chapel services which include singing Choral Evensong or Choral Eucharist. One of many choral highlights was when the Choirs combined together on St Patrick's Day to lead a service of worship for the whole school. This also involved a pupil Band playing Irish folk music from the organ loft and a stirring rendition of ‘The Rhythm of Life’ from the Choristers and Barbershop. Their next appearance in Chapel will be at the Festal Evensong in October. As usual, admittance is open to members of the school and the wider community. In addition to their repertoire of sacred music, the choir has a large repertoire of secular music including arrangements by Director of Music Hugh Sutton. His version of Goodnight Sweetheart and Blue Moon are some of the Choirs’ favourites! Life with The Choristers is not all work. This year’s annual Choir Theatre trip was to see The Wizard of Oz at the Palladium, and The Choristers, together with the Barbershop, Senior Orchestra and Jazz Band have just returned from a fabulous highly acclaimed 6 day tour of Norway.