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QE’s Chamber Choir teamed up with a pair of Old Elizabethan choral scholars to sing Evensong at Christ Church, the historic cathedral in Oxford.

It was the latest prestigious booking for the choir, who have in recent years sung in some of the country’s most iconic settings, including Westminster Abbey and King’s College, Cambridge.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “This was a tremendous privilege and a great opportunity, and I am glad to say that the Chamber Choir rose to the occasion. They sang impressively, with poise and discipline, accompanied by our own Noah Morley, of Year 12, on the organ.”

Having sung its first-ever Evensong at Barnet parish church as recently as the autumn of 2022, the Chamber Choir has, in addition to Westminster Abbey and King’s College, since sung at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, and Southwark Cathedral,

The Evensong marked a further deepening of QE’s ties with Christ Church, which enjoys the unique distinction of being both a college of the University of Oxford and the cathedral church of the city, the only dual foundation of its kind in the world. Earlier this year, 45 boys from Years 7 & 8 visited the college, which is the Borough of Barnet’s partner college at Oxford.

The choristers were joined by Old Elizabethans Arjun Patel and Nikhil Mark, both now choral scholars at Oxford, who not only sang alongside the boys, but also provided tours of Merton College and The Queen’s College. Arjun took up his place to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Merton in October 2024, having completed his A-levels that summer. Nikhil (OE 2018–2025) is reading Materials Science at The Queen’s College.

Dan Clark, Founding Principal of Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City, which is due to open this summer, joined the Headmaster in the congregation. Also there was Old Elizabethan Isher Jagdev (2017–2024).

Noah played throughout the service, except for the anthem. Seated at the cathedral’s Rieger organ, he also played the pre-service and post-service music: Eventide by Hubert Parry and Sun Dance by Bob Chilcott. Noah performed these pieces in his recent Grade 7 examination, for which he scored 141/150.

The service was redolent both of the traditions of Oxford and of Evensong in the Church of England.

In keeping with Christ Church’s observance of historic Oxford time, five minutes west of Greenwich, Evensong began at 6.05pm BST.

The boys sang the works of three English composers closely associated with English and Anglican choral music:

• The Tallis Responses, from Preces and Responses by Renaissance composer Thomas Tallis
• Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in D minor by 19th-century organist and composer Thomas Attwood Walmisley
• I am Alpha and Omega by John Stainer, published in 1878.

The cathedral stands on the site of an ancient Saxon church, founded in the eighth century by Saint Frideswide, the patron saint of Oxford. The present building was constructed in the 12th century as an Augustinian priory.

In 1524, just prior to the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Cardinal Wolsey gained permission from the Pope to close down St Frideswide’s Priory to use the land to build a vast new college for the university. Following Wolsey’s fall, the college was duly opened in 1546 in the name of Henry VIII.

Director of Music Ruth Partington said: “This visit exemplified the transformational experiences the Music department provides. We are very grateful to Arjun and Nikhil for singing with us and for inspiring potential future choral scholars to follow in their footsteps.”

Afterwards, some of the boys also reflected on the day. Sixth-former Leo Sellis, who has just been offered a choral scholarship at Jesus College, Cambridge, said: “I enjoyed how we were able to explore Oxford with the OE tour guides and then have a guided tour of Christ Church Cathedral before we did the service, meaning we could learn about the building (and the city) that we were singing in.” The choristers included another sixth-former with a choral scholarship offer: Adam Liang has been offered a place at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge.

Julius Collins, of Year 8, said: “The performance was outstanding and I am very grateful that I was able to take part in it, as I managed to develop my skills as a singer in an ensemble and demonstrate these in a formal setting with more resonant acoustics.” Year 9’s Krish Bhatia was impressed by the buildings:  “Some main highlights were visiting The Great Hall at Christ Church, which really fulfilled my inner ‘Hogwarts’ experience. I also thoroughly enjoyed the tour given by the OEs and learning different types of traditions and customs there, as well as seeing all the fascinating architecture. Overall, our visit to Oxford was nothing short of brilliant.” And Rishi Watsalya, of Year 12, added: “I really enjoyed the guided tour of Oxford with Nikhil, who also gave specific advice about the application process and his experience in Oxford as an OE. I also really appreciated the opportunity of, once again, singing in such a beautiful and historic cathedral.”

The Evensong was led by the Sub-Dean, Revd Canon Peter Moger. The Psalms for the service were numbers 126 and 127.

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Well over 400 pupils performed in the Leavers’ Concert, with many from the lower years turning out to support the musicians of Year 13.

The Class of 2026 have made a significant impact on music at QE. To name just three of their number – and there are many similar examples – Leo Sellis and Ryuki Watanabe form the backbone of several ensembles, which they encourage to take on more complex repertoire, while accomplished accompanist Colin Copcea provides essential support at rehearsals and performances.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “This was an outstanding concert, celebrating senior musicians who have contributed greatly to our supportive QE music community and thus have played a part in developing the confidence, skills and enjoyment of other pupils.”

The Leavers’ Concert was played to a sell-out audience in the Shearly Hall. It began, appropriately enough, with The Final Countdown by Europe, played by a specially formed Year 13 ensemble.

The remainder of the programme featured genres ranging from jazz to rock, from film music to ragtime (Scott Joplin’s Bethena Waltz, performed by the Junior Strings). Many of the ensembles were directed by Sixth Form musicians.

The end of the first half saw the School Orchestra take their places to perform, firstly, selections from Grieg’s Peer Gynt (together with the Senior Strings ensemble), and then pieces by Prokofiev and Debussy.

After enjoying interval refreshments served in the Dining Hall, the audience returned to hear the second half get under way with the Indian Ensemble performing works from both south and north India.

Towards the conclusion of the programme, the Headmaster stepped forward to present Music colours, with Mathematics teacher Navjeet Swatch, QE’s ‘resident’ tuba player, honoured alongside pupils.

The boys themselves offered their heartfelt thanks to Music teachers Caroline Grint and Jas Hutchinson-Bazely, and to Head of Department Ruth Partington, who joined QE as Director of Music on the same day they started in Year 7 in September 2019.

A grand finale saw the School Choir and Orchestra massing to perform excerpts from Les Misérables.

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Help was on hand when QE’s Music students had to perform their own GCSE and A-level compositions.

Not only did their fellow pupils turn out in numbers to play alongside them at the special concert, but two Old Elizabethans returned to the School to support them, too.

As well as the new works, the Chamber, Choral and Composition Concert featured Beethoven, Brahms and Schubert, together with pieces by lesser-known 20th-century luminaries, such as the Polish-Lithuanian Grażyna Bacewicz and Czech composer Bohuslav Martinů.

Adding to the entertaining mood in The Friends’ Recital Hall, there was a Barbershop rendition of Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing, not to mention sixth-former Leo Sellis’ quirkily titled piece, 7W Microwave (purportedly inspired by some of the random titles given to jazz tracks).

Director of Music Ruth Partington said: “It was a splendid evening, with a spectacular quality of composition and performance. The criteria for the GCSE and A-level compositions were that they should make full use of the instrument for which they were composed, so we had lots of virtuoso performances.

“It was lovely to see boys investing so much in playing the work of their friends and peers, and doing those works great justice.”

Miss Partington especially thanked Old Elizabethans Conor Parker-Delves (2015-2022) and Tristan Boldy (2013-2020) for returning to play the saxophone and trumpet respectively. Conor had travelled down from Manchester, where he is in his final year at the Royal Northern College of Music.

The final performance filled the floor of The Friends’ Recital Hall as the Chamber Choir and Orchestra combined for sections of Mozart’s Requiem. It was, said Miss Partington, “stirring, powerful, and a demonstration of the massed strength of QE’s singers and musicians”.  Those involved had attended a workshop with the Barnet Choral Society on this work back in January, and Miss Partington duly thanked the society’s Musical Director, Rory McCleery.

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A string of pupil organists got the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols off to a rousing start, while the sweet sounds of soloists and of the Chamber Choir helped make it a memorable and moving occasion.

The congregation at St John the Baptist Church were treated to some lesser-known carols from the Chamber Choir and Barbershop group. They also enjoyed joining in themselves throughout the service with festive favourites, culminating in Hark! The Herald Angels sing.

Held by tradition on the eve of the final day of term, the service in the parish church followed days of seasonal activities at QE, including Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, and a toy collection for Sebby’s Corner, the family charity on the adjacent Queen’s Road Industrial Estate.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “The carol service was ambitious in scale and the music impressive, from epic fanfares and orchestral flourishes, to pitch-perfect vocals in pieces such as the Chamber Choir’s Masters in this Hall, and not forgetting the belting congregational carols! The boys who gave readings delivered them with aplomb. All in all, it was both a beautiful and stirring occasion.

“My thanks go to Father Sam Rossiter and the churchwardens, and to all the School staff whose tireless efforts make such splendid occasions possible.”

After the initial organ voluntaries, given by organists from Years 7–10, there were two minutes of silent reflection, before the Chamber Choir sang the Introit, O Come Emmanuel. In customary fashion, the final reading, given by the Headmaster, was the first verses of the prologue to St John’s gospel, starting: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

The service ended with the clergy, choir and dignitaries processing out of the church and with Year 12 organist Noah Morley playing as the recessional, William Mathias’s Fanfare.

VIP guests at the carol service included the Deputy Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Edith David, and the Representative Deputy Lieutenant, Mr Martin Russell, who attended alongside staff, governors, Old Elizabethans, Year 7 pupils and their parents, and other friends of the School.

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The Winter Concert saw hundreds of musicians put on a seasonal spectacular in the Shearly Hall.

With this year’s event moved closer to the end of term, there was even more of a festive feel. Santa hats and reindeer antlers were much in evidence, and the massed vocalists of the School Choir, accompanied by the Jazz Band, delivered a rousing finale of Run, Rudolph, Run.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “Our musicians brilliantly captured the fun and joy of the season, but combined that with a very high standard of musicianship throughout.

“There really was something for everyone, whether that was toe-tapping to Junior Jazz playing Billy Joel, rocking out to the Electric Guitar Ensemble’s rendition of a Metallica track, or being transported to the ballet for the thrilling and stirring ending of Swan Lake.

“Two-thirds of the items on the programme were conducted or directed by students, which is remarkable. And we enjoyed some great festive moments – including elves and even a boy in a shirt adorned with tree lights!

“My thanks go to the Music department whose work ethic, attention to detail, and inspiring leadership gets the boys to this level. I am also grateful to those pupils who fulfilled roles including helping with stage management and welcoming guests on the doors. Their work, together with that of our fantastic Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s volunteers, made for a smooth and enjoyable evening for all.”

The Senior Winds performed a selection from West Side Story. Fans of the Last Night of the Proms enjoyed the rising tempo of The Sailor’s Hornpipe, aided by the counting skills of Wendy Fung, Head of Academic Administration, who joined Director of Music Ruth Partington on percussion.

In perhaps the biggest-ever end to the first half of a QE concert, the full orchestra and all of Junior String, Senior Strings, Junior Winds and Senior Winds massed on the staging – even spilling off it! – for Tchaikovsky’s Trepak. Again, the boys were aided by members of staff on percussion, including Assistant Head Crispin Bonham-Carter; Head of Year 10 Celia Wallace; Head of Biology Gillian Ridge; Head of English Robert Hyland; and Cover Supervisor Mina Shah.

The Headmaster awarded Music colours to 20 pupils, with Music Bars going to Leo Sellis, of Year 13. The recognition is for longstanding commitment and excellence, but also for making a difference to others.

Miss Partington said: “The way in which pupils are given responsibility and then help those around them – not necessarily just younger pupils – ensures there are always new stars coming through and shining brightly. That help can involve simply setting an example or it can, for instance, see them assisting others in tackling more complex repertoire.”

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The Royal College of Organists held a special concert exclusively for QE musicians in a historic City of London church.

Six QE organists and four vocalists performed in the free lunchtime recital at St Lawrence Jewry Church.

It was the first in the RCO’s Young Performers’ series of concerts. Like the remaining two schools due to give concerts in the series – Cheltenham Ladies’ College and Eton College – QE is an RCO-accredited institution.

For several of QE’s organists, this was their first public performance, and it was one which gave them the opportunity to play on the church’s high-quality, modern organ, built by the German firm of Klais in 2001.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “It was a joy to spend a lunchtime in beautiful surroundings and to hear our QE performers. Well done, too, to Year 7’s Harry Xuan and Hercules Li, who introduced the concert with confidence whilst just about able to see over the lectern!

“It is great to see the Music department helping our pupils to realise their Boundless potential, taking full advantage of our place and proximity to the capital, whilst also investing in our partnership with the Royal College of Organists to promote excellence.”

Mr Enright thanked the RCO’s Director, Sir Andrew Parmley, and Director of Relationships, Madeline Smith, as well as the Music department, for making the concert possible.

The concert featured music spanning five centuries by: George Böhm; George Frideric Handel; Matthew Camidge; Giulio Caccini; Johann Sebastian Bach; César Geoffray; Samuel Sebastian Wesley; Théodore Dubois; and William Mathias.

Assistant Director of Music Jas Hutchinson Bazely said: “This was a wonderful opportunity for the boys to perform in a historic church in the City, and the perfect occasion to showcase the growing number of organists at the School. For all the musicians involved, it was an inspiring event, and I’m very grateful to the Royal College of Organists for their kind invitation.”

The Young Performer Series in the City is dedicated to the memory of Catherine Ennis, former President of the RCO and organist at St Lawrence Jewry.

The concert programme featured brief biographies of all the QE performers.

Although Harry and Hercules, who have both just started learning the organ in School, did not actually perform, the remaining six QE organists all did. The six included:

• Zach Fernandes, of Year 10, who said: “I most enjoyed playing on a new organ as it had a new type of pipes which I didn’t know about. Additionally, I enjoyed playing to a larger audience than I’m used to and playing along with many more people than usual.”
• Arthur Wang, of Year 8: “The 8-ft stops sounded very warm, and I quite enjoyed being able to see the pipes right behind the organ, with its direct connection to the organ. The pipes were pretty close to each other, so there wouldn’t be a bit of delay if I was playing on different manuals at the same time. It was a really beautiful organ as well, with all the shiny metal on the pipes.”
• Robin Peng, of Year 8: “I enjoyed being on an actual three-manual pipe organ the most. The organ at St Lawrence Jewry is so much grander than the ones that I normally play. Also, it had a mechanical link to the stops and the pipes, and it was exciting to both see and feel them in action.”

In addition to the organists, several QE singers drawn from Years 11–13, also performed. Joseph Donovan, of Year 11, said: “I loved singing with the organ next to me; the sound was really strong and full.”

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