Seasonal musical favourites round off term

An eclectic musical mix of seasonal classics and more modern compositions at the Christmas Concert and the traditional Service of Nine Lessons & Carols helped round off the Autumn Term in style. The festive spirit was also much in evidence as boys savoured their Christmas lunch in the School’s newly opened Dining Hall.

The Christmas Concert, run in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Barnet, was held in QE’s Shearly Hall. The programme included carols such as We Three Kings of Orient Are and Ding Dong Merrily on High as well as classical favourites such as All we like sheep from Handel’s Messiah and a performance by the School’s Senior Indian Ensemble of Vinayakane Viney Theebavane (Talam–Adi), which was rehearsed by Sixth-Formers Mithushan Sathiaseelan and Selvamurugunantham Kabilan.

The President of The Rotary Club of Barnet, Daniel Orchard, welcomed the audience to the concert and spoke of the club’s “proud association” with the School, adding: “We are looking forward to another evening of seasonal and traditional music, performed by the many talented musicians that make up the School’s music department.”

QE’s Director of Music, Kieron Howe, paid tribute not only to the boys who performed but also those who had a more supporting role: “I would like to thank all the directors of the ensembles for their hard work and dedication in getting the boys to this level of performance. In that I also include Kabilan and Mithushan for their work with the Senior Indian Music Ensemble; and all of the boys themselves, for their continued commitment and diligence.”

The evening was rounded off with a selection of traditional carols, with the audience joining in.

The final musical event of the term was the annual carol service held at the Parish Church in Chipping Barnet, attended by the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Melvin Cohen. Christmas Bible readings were given by representatives from each School year, School Captain Nikhil Patel, members of Staff and by the Headmaster, Neil Enright. The readings were interspersed amongst a selection of traditional and modern musical offerings, including Once in Royal David’s City and My Lord has Come by Will Todd.

The Christmas lunch menu offered traditional turkey with trimmings and a vegetarian option. “Boys and staff thoroughly enjoyed the experience of dining in the wonderful new facility,” said the Headmaster. “These events together comprised a fitting celebration of a term which saw the School record notable successes on a number of fronts.”