WHAT A WAY TO SPEND YOUR HOLIDAYS!

Whilst most children look forward to six weeks of getting up late, cartoons on television and lazy days, two of our choristers, Rosie and Tom went to Bath on a residential choral week with the Royal School of Church Music.

On Monday 22nd August over one hundred young adults, aged between eight and eighteen, arrived at Kingswood school in Bath from all over Britain- some had even travelled from as far a field as Canada and Japan!

Days started early at 7.30am with a wake up call and the itinerary consisted of them learning, practicing and rehearsing a large amount of new music. What little free time they had consisted of visits to Bath, swimming and other sporting actives at the school.

The culmination of the week was performing in Bath Abbey over the weekend of the 27th & 28th August. The choir performed a recital of most of their music on the Saturday lunchtime and this was followed by Evensong. On Sunday they sang at Matins and again at Evensong. The reception they received was phenomenal.

The course finished back at the school on Sunday evening, where the choir sung a fantastic Calypso anthem. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses were exchanged with friends made over the week.

Here are Rosie’s and Tom’s views on their time there:

Rosie:

I have just spent a wicked week singing! Tom and I arrived in Bath on Monday 22. I shared a room with two girls, Ali from Bedford and it was her first time too. Sarah came from Japan but she was an old timer. We got up at 7.00!! Everyday and we sung our little hearts out, but singing in Bath Abbey on the Saturday and Sunday was worth all the effort. I even think my singing has improved. Can’t wait for next year!

Tom:

My week in Bath was really fun. I met lots of people and did lots of things. At the end of the week we sang at bath Abbey. The experience was amazing and I really enjoyed it.

Both of them have expressed an interest in going next year.