College Christmas Concert fills Royal Memorial Chapel
Posted on Wednesday 24 December 2008
A congregation of over 1000 filled the Sandhurst Chapel for a wonderful evening of Christmas music a
A Wonderful Festival of Lessons and Carols
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A congregation of over 1000 friends and family of students and staff at Farnborough Sixth Form College gathered for a traditional service of readings and carols at the Royal Memorial Chapel, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, on Friday evening. The service, the brainchild of the College’s Director of Music Paul Bambrough, was led by the Sixth Form College Chaplain, Rev Rachel Bennetts and the Senior Chaplain of the Royal Memorial Chapel, Rev Timothy Cole.
The musical tone of the evening was set by student tenor soloists Daniel Coldridge, 17, of Fleet, and Josh Nancolas, 18, of Yateley, whose opening unaccompanied plainsong, Pour Down, O Heavens, sung from the rear balconies filled the Chapel with song.
Once in Royal David’s City was intoned by 18-year old soprano, Sarah Brown, of Wokingham, before the College Choir sang the second verse in the distance as they approached the Chapel doors. The Congregation, standing in the magnificence of the candle-lit church, accompanied the final verses as the choir of over 100 students processed into the Chapel, taking their seats in the choir stalls.
There followed a series of carols and hymns, with readings by students, staff and governors of the College. Soprano soloists Vicky Tay, 18, of Binfield, and Pippa Grayson, 17, of Fleet, and tenor Steve Mills, 16, of Hook, sang moving interpretations of Ave Maria, There’s a Light Upon the Mountains and In the Bleak Midwinter respectively, supported by a magnificent College Choir which reached professional standards of musicianship under Paul Bambrough’s tutelage and direction.
The Mayor and Mayoress of Rushmoor, Cllr and Mrs Alan Ferrier, attended the concert. Cllr Ferrier said, “This has been a magnificent evening of musical preparation for Christmas and the College should be congratulated on the quality of music which I would expect from professional choirs – it has been wonderful.”
College Principal Dr John Guy said, “I am immensely proud of the students of this College whose voices filled the enormity of the Royal Memorial Chapel to the delight of us all. I have rarely seen such a packed Church nor a congregation so enriched by the experience.”
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