St Swithun’s Chamber Choir reaches final of Barnado’s National Choir competition

St Swithun’s Chamber Choir has been selected as a St Swithuns Chamber choir finalist in the Barnardo’s National Choir Competition,

one of only 6 senior schools in the country. The final takes place on March 4 at the Barbican, London.

The prize for the two winning choirs will be an invitation to sing at the the Barnardo’s Young Supporters’ Concert on 5 November 2013 at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

Composer Douglas Coombes MBE, honoured in the Queen’s 2012 Birthday Honours List, has offered to write a song for the two winning choirs.

The St Swithun’s Chamber Choir was only formed in November 2012 and had limited rehearsal time before sending off the competition entry recording. The 18 girls in the choir range from Year 10 through to Upper Sixth.

Mrs YiRu Hall, director of music at St Swithun’s, said “I am delighted that the girls will have the opportunity to perform in London. They are a very talented group of singers who have worked really hard to get this far in a short space of time. We are all very excited – staff included!”