Choral Competition Hits The High Notes | Epsom College
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Choral Competition Hits The High Notes

Following weeks of rehearsals that have filled the College with music, yesterday’s annual Inter House Choral Competition was hotly anticipated and didn't disappoint.

The audience of parents, staff and fellow pupils were packed into the Sports Hall and were thoroughly entertained by an array of moving, funny and often outstanding performances from the 13 Houses.

Each House takes it in turn to present a Solo, an unaccompanied Part Song and a Unison performance which features the combined talents of the entire House.

Each Unison performance is conducted by a senior pupil, with each House choosing and arranging its own song, choreography, costumes and props.

This year, Raven took home the trophy as the overall winner. Upper Fourth pupil Brandon McGuinness earned top billing for Propert with his show-stopping performance of Elton John’s Your Song. The Part Song was won by White House with their medley of songs by Queen. This year’s Unison winners were Forest, with yet a showcase of Elton John’s finest work, including – once more – Your Song… clearly emerging as the theme song for the event.

The Choral Competition has always been a highlight of the year as one of the longest-standing events in the College calendar. Not only does it underline the strong tradition of singing at the College, it also forms strong bonds in the Houses and brings together the wider College community to celebrate the talent and dedication of our pupils.

This year’s judge was Laura Oldfield.

Laura has had an eclectic career. She has been Director of Music at a number of top independent schools but now enjoys a career as a professional singer. She sings with groups such as the BBC singers and London Voices, with whom she has recorded many blockbuster films, most recently the soundtracks to Barbie and the new Avengers film.

The Director of Music, Mr Paul Johnson-Hyde, said: “Across all the Houses, there was an impressively high standard of singing on display. But perhaps more than this, the Choral Competition epitomises the House spirit here at Epsom, which shines through in the collaboration and support between older and younger years. The pupils have great fun rehearsing and performing and many bravely take a central role, not least in the case of the contributions from our youngest performers in Middle Fourth, a number of whom stepped up as accompanists.

Laura was impressed with the standard of the competition and the clear dedication and passion each House brought to the stage.”

 

The Choral Competition Trophy (overall winners)

  • 1st: Raven
  • 2nd: White
  • 3rd: Forest
  • 4th: Wilson
  • 5th: Robinson

Solo – The Trott Cup

  • 1st: Brandon McGuinness (Propert)
  • Joint 2nd: Bea Digance (Raven) & Ellie Vetch (Wilson)
  • 4th: Amber Roberts (White)
  • 5th: Emily Mitchell (Crawfurd)

Part Song – The Carson Cup

  • 1st: White
  • Joint 2nd: Forest & Robinson
  • 4th: Raven
  • 5th: Wilson

Unison – The Murray Cup

  • 1st: Forest
  • 2nd: Raven
  • 3rd: White
  • 4th: Murrell
  • 5th: Holman