With Norwich’s St John the Baptist Catholic Cathedral as its magnificent backdrop, the Norwich School Choral Society delighted a substantial and appreciative audience at its annual public concert on 12 March 2025. This 41^st successive concert since the group’s founding in 1983 treated concert-goers to a musical performance of the highest quality.

This choral event is a cultural highlight in Norwich’s flourishing creative arts scene and is unique in fostering some remarkable collaborations: The Norwich School Choral Society (being the school’ s adult choir made up of alumni, friends, former parents and staff) performed together with the school’s multiple pupil choirs, creating a combined chorus in excess of 130-strong and spanning ages from 13 to the over 80s; Similarly, our pupil instrumentalists were playing alongside the hugely experienced professional musicians of the Norwich Baroque ensemble, bringing together an orchestra of over 30 talented musicians, complete with rousing timpani. All of our young musicians acquitted themselves with great aplomb on the public stage, demonstrating the breadth and depth of musical talent within the school’s music department.

Jonathan Stamp, the school’s Director of Music commented:

It is always heartwarming to see so many people come together to make music. The energy and enthusiasm from pupils, parents, staff and guests made for a stellar performance and we look forward to continuing this annual event for many years to come.

The programme kicked off with three 20th century choral works: Lauridsen’s Sure on this Shining Night, Mawby’s tender Ave Verum depicting Christ’s agony on the cross, and Balfour-Gardiner’s exquisite Evening Hymn. The first half closed with a genuine musical treat: Elgar’s sublime Cello Concerto in E Minor, the piece best known from the legendary 1960s interpretation by Jacqueline du Pré. Our soloist was Upper Sixth pupil Colette Maxwell-Preston. No stranger to high profile public performances, she gave an assured performance of great pathos and maturity, well deserving of the thunderous applause that concluded the first half.

Reflecting on her performance, soloist and music scholar Colette commented: 

Performing the first movement of Elgar’s Cello Concerto accompanied by Norwich Baroque was an amazing experience. The opportunity to be accompanied by strings rather than piano provided a different sort of depth and emotion to my favourite piece. It was terrific to play in such a beautiful space, too, and I’m really grateful for having had the opportunity to share in my last year at Norwich School such a beautiful piece with the audience.

The second half brought together the full orchestra and choir for a stirring performance of Haydn’s Nelson Mass under the baton of our Head of Vocal Studies, Posy Walton. This choice of choral work was particularly apt in light of Nelson’s historic links to the school. After all, his statue opposite the school’s Chapel had witnessed every moment of rehearsal over many preceding months! Soloists of the highest calibre included Norwich School Music Dept staff Andrew Weeks (base) and Connor Collerton (tenor). Hearing those accomplished musicians singing on the same platform together was pure joy.

A concert of this size and complexity, involving over 160 individual musicians, was only made possible thanks to the generous support from a number of sponsors, to whom we are incredibly grateful. Norwich School has long been a member of the national Choir Schools’ Association, and their generous repeat grant was hugely appreciated, as was the financial sponsorship from respected local businesses Hansells Solicitors, Savills, the Norfolk Club and Drury Vehicle Services. Our gratitude also goes out to Dean Fr Alan Hodgson from the Cathedral and his staff for welcoming the school back to their lovely cathedral for a second year. Months of meticulous preparation from the Choral Society Committee and members of the school’s hard-working music department also deserve heart-felt appreciation. Finally, our thanks go to all performers for their sensational performance and to our audience whose generous final ovation reflected the considerable pleasure this evening of music had brought them.