Featuring Britain’s tallest spire, the magnificent Salisbury Cathedral hosted Hurstpierpoint College’s chamber choir for choral evensong on the 5th of October. Having made the 70-mile trip, staff and pupils were inspired by the cathedral’s stunning architecture. The traditional service consisted of readings, prayer, chant, hymns, an anthem and choral responses. Opening with an organ solo, excellently performed by Miss Bray, the choir entered in procession. Looking the part dressed in Hurst scarlet cassocks, and directed by Mr. Matthews, the choir opened the service with John Sanders’ responses. This was followed by Psalm 29 powerfully sung in chant by the choir. The choir followed this with a rendition of Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in F by George Dyson. This featured particularly noteworthy performances from soloists Georgie Corbett-Clark and Willem Paskins. Hurst’s chaplain, Dr Blokland, then gave a thoughtful reading before the choir filled the huge acoustic of the cathedral with a rousing performance of the anthem ‘Be Thou My Vision’ by Bob Chilcott. Featuring soloist Amy Kenyon, this performance was particularly well received by the Dean of the Cathedral, who expressed his compliments to the choir following the service. The choir processed out to Miss Bray’s playing of the G Major Prelude and Fugue by J.S. Bach on the Salisbury Cathedral Organ – arguably amongst the finest instruments in the country. All the pupils relished the opportunity to perform in such an awe-inspiring venue and excellently represented Hurst’s proud tradition of choral singing.
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