Senior School Carol Service

On the evening of Tuesday 14 December 2021, St. Mary’s, Bathwick kindly hosted the Senior School's annual carol service. Not to be defeated by restricted audience numbers due to Covid, the School held two services in quick succession. Following on from the Monday Choral Day, a choir of over 50 singers took part in the services which were the culmination of many lunchtime and before-school practice sessions. 

Overseen by our School Chaplain, Reverend Caroline O’Neill, the service was bookended by ex-KES Music teacher Phil Weaver who, as well as accompanying the congregational carols, performed Sleepers, Wake by J.S. Bach and Trumpet Tune and Air by Henry Purcell on St. Marys’ stunning pipe organ. 

KES 16 opened proceedings, demonstrating accomplished vocal polyphony with their evocative rendition of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina’s Matin Responsory. Katie Shepperdson and Emma Hocking remained in situ to deliver a breath-taking first verse of the congregational carol, Once in Royal David’s City for each service respectively.  Having prayed together, the KES Senior Singers Choir, led by Mr Drury and accompanied by Mr Hutchings, stood to perform the beautifully uplifting Jesus Child by John Rutter. Later in the service, the KES Sixteen choir took their positions at the front of the church, holding candles in a darkened church, to sing a truly exquisite version of Tchaikovsky’s The Crown of the Roses and the wonderfully rich, complex and uplifting polyphonic setting of O Magnum Mysterium by Tomás Luis de Victoria. 

Throughout, the service was interspersed with readings by Juliette (Year 8), Raff Wells (Year 10) and Joshua Bernald-Ross (Head Prefect). 

Bringing the service to a close, the combined choirs descended from the stalls singing Recession from A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten. 

As the pupils said their goodbyes, the sense of elation at having performed together for the first time in a long time was there for all to see and we look forward with hope to 2022 and the numerous performance opportunities that await. 
 

Mr Drury, Director of Music

You can view photos from the Carol Service via the flickr gallery below.

Flickr album: Carol Service - December 2021 | Height: auto | Theme: Default | Skin: Default Skin