A newly formed Community Choir gave its first performance at Rydal Penrhos School’s Summer Concert on Tuesday 
evening.
The 30-strong choir joined forces with both the Rydal Penrhos Senior and Prep school choirs to perform movements from Schubert’s Mass in G, accompanied by the Rydal Penrhos Sinfonia.
The choir was formed earlier this year, and is the brainchild of Julian Whittaker, Head of Music at Rydal Penrhos. He says: “As a choral director, I have a burning passion to get everyone singing, not just the students, but also our wider school community.
We are lifelong learners and I want everyone to relish the sheer joy of singing in a choir, not just for the obvious vocal benefits, but also self confidence, teamwork and wider skills.”
Not surprisingly, with such passion and enthusiasm, this new project has really taken off. Many of those who came along to the first rehearsals had not sung since their own schooldays, but they soon rediscovered their love for singing. Everyone has great fun in rehearsals – as well as doing some serious note-learning!
The Schubert Mass was the grand finale to a spectacular Summer Concert that included music ranging from movements from a Mozart Piano Concerto and one of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos 3 to excerpts from the school’s hit show ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ and brilliant arrangements for the Jazz Band of ‘Minnie the Moocher’ and ‘Take 5’.
The school’s other choirs also performed separately, including the Girls’ Choir, the Prep Chamber Choir, the Chapel Choir and the Tenors and Basses.
For Julian Whittaker, it’s a win-win situation. He now has a keen and talented adult choir to perform alongside pupils at school in the ambitious programme of choral and orchestral works he has planned for the next few years.
The community choir also intends to raise funds for chosen charities, and the next step is to organise a local concert featuring the best in choral music from the 1600s to present day, including madrigals, show songs and multicultural pieces. Watch this space!