The Wallace High School Chamber Choir, Cappella, spent four days in the Cathedral city of Lincoln last week. The 30 strong choir had been invited to sing in Evensong at Lincoln Cathedral. In preparation for the event, Cappella spent a day rehearsing at St Anne’s Cathedral Belfast.
Head of Music in Wallace, Mr Robert Thompson, spent a week in Lincoln Cathedral last year with the Priory Singers and the Director of Music in the Cathedral, the second largest in the UK, is Charles Harrison, former Director of Music at St George’s Belfast.
Wallace Lower Sixth pupil, Edward McMullan, counter tenor and Organ Scholar at St George’s recently spent a week’s work experience working with Charles Harrison in Lincoln. Edward explained,
“My week in Lincoln really confirmed my desire to follow a career in Cathedral Music. I hope to take a gap year following my A levels and then study music at university. I thoroughly enjoyed being part of cathedral life on work experience and the Cappella weekend was superb too.”
Wallace’s Cappella choir was joined on their tour by several ex pupils whose musical lives are continuing to flourish. Mr Thompson explained,
“Our tour provided an excellent opportunity for our pupils to learn from others who are following musical careers. Former Wallace pupils Neil Moore is Assistant Director of Music at Hereford Cathedral School, Jack Kinkead is studying at Trinity College Dublin and a lay clerk in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, whilst Ruth Sedgewick is studying at Stranmillis College and singing with the Priory Singers. We were also joined by Reggie Patterson, former Head of Music in Limavady Grammar and by one of the province’s leading soprano soloists Rachel Thompson. We were also delighted to welcome John Crothers, a former teacher at Wallace, who is currently teaching in Paris. Our Evensong pieces were very challenging. We chose Charles Wood’s Expectans Expectavi because of the Northern Ireland connection and I was delighted that Edward McMullan accompanied us on a number of our pieces.
The tour provided an excellent opportunity for our pupils to perform in a professional environment where standards and expectations were high. We also had the opportunity to hear the choir of Girton College Cambridge – our pupils can now aspire to their superb standard. The whole experience has been extremely beneficial, particularly for those who are studying Music at GCSE and A Level.”
Year 11 pupil Katie Reid added, “We all really enjoyed the tour, building firm friendships between year groups and having the chance to perform in such a magnificent historic place. We’d all really like to thank Mr Thompson and Miss Bill for organising such a fantastic trip.”
Mr Thompson concluded, “This week sees Cappella commence a busy rehearsal schedule for a Vivaldi concert which will be staged here in Wallace on 21 and 22 April.”
Last modified: October 16, 2007
