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MUSIC Contents
Introduction
The
College is well known throughout Chester and North Wales for the
outstanding quality of its music. The Chapel Choir has made numerous
contributions to the musical life of the City, most notably as support
to the Royal Marines Band at a Concert to celebrate the 900th
Anniversary of Chester Cathedral. In addition, the Chapel Choir has for several years undertaken week long summer visits to Cathedrals in various parts of the country. So far it has visited Ely, Gloucester, Peterborough, St. Albans, Ripon, Tewkesbury and Hereford. The pattern was interrupted in 1991 with a tour of Holland and Germany along with the school dance band (The Saighton Syncopators) and in 1993 a tour of Denmark was successfully completed. The Choir is now a regular visitor
to St. Paul's Cathedral to sing Evensong and was invited to sing
for the first time in Westminster Abbey in 1994. The College has also a full orchestra numbering approximately 40 pupils, a School Choir, and The Saighton Syncopators dance band, which has become very popular and which is in great demand for dances and social occasions. Instrumentalists also give regular concerts inside and outside the College and enter the Chester Music Festival Competitions Two annual Services are held in Chester Cathedral at Christmas and Easter.
Abbey Gate College Chapel Choir
Abbey Gate College Chapel Choir was formed in 1983 from pupils who were in the main school choir. It began as a Chamber Choir of 15 members which has now expanded to a membership of 50 which includes some recent ex-pupils who return for major concerts held outside the University terms. As Chester Cathedral has no choir school Abbey Gate College is amongst a group of schools fortunate to benefit from educating some of the choristers with the obvious advantages such boys have in choral singing, both before and after their voices have broken. Chorister bursaries of £800pa and Music scholarships of 1/3 in school fees are available each year. In addition to two annual school services at Christmas and Passiontide, held in Chester Cathedral, the choir gives regular concerts and sings for services in the local area as well as further afield. These have included BBC Radio 4 Morning Service broadcasts, an appearance on TVAM, and three Radio Merseyside broadcasts. In July 1991 the Chapel Choir together with the school band (The Saighton Syncopators) undertook its first tour abroad giving concerts in Holland and Germany over an 8-day period. From its base at Valkenberg (Holland) the choir travelled to Cologne Cathedral, Aachen Cathedral and Altenberg Dom in Germany. In Holland concerts were given at St. Jan Church, Maastricht. At its base in Valkenberg the choir had the opportunity to sing for a Catholic Mass in a modern church. In July 1993 a similar choral concert tour was undertaken in Denmark. These tours followed a series of successful summer visits in the 1980s to Cathedrals in various parts of the country. The most recent visits have been made to Durham Cathedral, York Minster and Bath Abbey. The choir received invitations to sing Evensong in Westminster Abbey in 1994 and St. George's Chapel, Windsor in 1995. In January 2000 the Choir paid its twelfth visit to St. Paul's Cathedral, London, to sing Evensong at Epiphany-tide and will return there in April 2001. In July 1997 the choir undertook a concert tour of America singing in Denver, Boulder and Brighton in Colorado, Portland (Maine), Hartford (Connecticut) and St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. The Choir will sing the services in Salisbury Cathedral for a week during the summer of 2001 and is already booked to sing in Wells in 2002. A second tour of America is planned for 2003. The choir recorded its first CD in March 1997 in Chester Cathedral. The CD includes the Fauré Requiem, Zadok the Priest and the Hallelujah Chorus. The second CD 'Bright the Vision' was recorded in 1999. The Choir specialises in performing music from the Sacred Choral Repertoire of music from 1500 to the present day. The Choir is very versatile singing a large amount of Renaissance unaccompanied music through the large accompanied works of the Romantic period up to the music of Howells and most recently John Tavener.
Daphne Herbert Choral Scholarship
Conditions of Award
1. The Award is valid from the 1st September of the year of acceptance until the end of the Sixth Form, subject to contribution, musical or otherwise, and is reviewed on an annual basis. 2. The value of the Award is one-third of school annual fees. 3. The candidate must satisfy both the school academic entrance examination conditions and the music test requirements outlined below. 4. The candidate must produce a music reference from a music teacher or choir master, to be brought on the day of the test. 5. The candidate must satisfy the following: (a) to sing one prepared piece (b) to sing a short piece at sight (c) to show ability where possible by playing a prepared piece on one or more instruments (d) to take aural tests at the individual's own standard (e) to talk briefly about musical interests 6. Contact Mr Smith for further details.
Awarded by The Deeside House Educational Trust Limited
Music ExhibitionConditions of Award
1. The Exhibition is valid from the 1st September of the year of acceptance until the end of the Sixth Form, subject to contribution, musical or otherwise, and is reviewed on an annual basis. 2. The value of the Exhibition is one-third of annual school fees. 3. The candidate must satisfy both the school academic entrance examination conditions and the music test requirements outlined below. 4. The candidate must produce a music reference from a music teacher or choir master which clearly indicates the candidate's musical enthusiasm and ability. This is to be brought by the candidate on the day of the test. 5. The candidate must satisfy the following at the time of application: (a) be of Grade 3-4 standard on one instrument (voice counts as an instrument) (b) be able to play, or seriously consider starting, a second instrument. 6. The candidate must satisfy the following at the time of the test: (a) perform one prepared piece on his/her main instrument (b) perform a short piece at sight on his/her main instrument (c) perform on a second instrument if one is learned (d) take aural tests at the individual's own standard (e) talk briefly about his/her musical interests It is expected that the successful candidate will take a full and active part in the musical life of the school where possible, and will be forthcoming in participating in the many varied extra-curricular musical activities. It is not a requirement of the Exhibition that the candidate be taught his/her instrument by Abbey Gate College staff, so if the candidate is happy with the present teacher he/she is quite at liberty to remain with that teacher. For further details contact Mr Smith.
Awarded by The Deeside House Educational Trust Limited
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