Senior Choristers on Tour

Truro Cathedral’s Senior Choristers enjoyed a wonderful and inspiring tour over the recent weekend, visiting Oxford, London and Wells to sing in some of the country’s most prestigious venues. The four-day trip combined music, learning and fun, giving the girls the opportunity to perform alongside professional musicians and reconnect with former Truro Cathedral organ scholars and choristers.

The tour began early on Friday morning with a rehearsal at Truro School before the coach departed for Oxford. On arrival, the group enjoyed a guided tour of The Queen’s College led by former Truro Cathedral choral scholar, Sam. Highlights included a visit to the historic seventeenth-century library before rehearsing for Evensong with The Queen’s College Choir under the direction of Owen Rees. The combined choirs performed Dyson’s ‘Canticles in F’ and Darke’s ‘Be strong and of good courage’, a new favourite for the choristers.

Having headed into London, Saturday began with a guided tour of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, with the afternoon spent inside St Paul’s Cathedral, where the choristers were welcomed by Organist James Orford, a former Truro Cathedral organ scholar (2014–15). James gave the group a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour, including the Whispering Gallery and Triforium, before they joined the St Paul’s Cathedral Choir Consort to sing Ives’ ‘Missa Brevis’ and Narverud’s ‘O quam gloriosum’ for the Eucharist of St Luke. Performing alongside six professional sopranos and the cathedral’s back row made for a thrilling musical experience in St Paul’s magnificent acoustic. The day ended with a group meal and a fiercely competitive late-night game of Scrabble back at the hostel.

On Sunday, the group began the day with some free time in Covent Garden, where choristers and staff alike enjoyed shopping and sightseeing before heading to the nearby Two Temple Place. Built for William Waldorf Astor in 1895, the building was designed by John Loughborough Pearson, the same architect as Truro Cathedral, and features many of the same craftsmen’s work.

The concert, hosted by the Bulldog Trust, featured the Senior Choristers alongside pianist and organist George Herbert and a specially assembled back row including Truro alumna Katherine Gregory (CO20) and singers from the Royal College and Royal Academy of Music. The programme ranged from Tallis’ ‘If ye love me’ to Elgar’s ‘Give unto the Lord’, concluding with Strauss’ ‘Cäcilie’ performed by Katherine Gregory and George Herbert.

The final day of the tour took the choir to Wells Cathedral, where they were warmly welcomed for a guided tour and Evensong. The service, accompanied by former Truro Cathedral organ scholar Carolyn Craig (2018–19), included Sumsion’s ‘Canticles in G’ and Stanford’s ‘Song of Wisdom’, a firm favourite of the choir.

The tour was a resounding success, showcasing the choristers’ musicianship and teamwork at every venue. Warm thanks go to Ms Selvey, Mrs Gregory, Mrs Vaughan and Mr Anderson-Besant for their organisation and support, and to the girls themselves for their exemplary singing and spirit throughout the trip.