Aurora

Following the tragic shooting at the screening of the Dark Knight Rises, composer Hans Zimmer wrote a piece in memory of the victims and with all funds raised going to the families.

Vaughan treble Thomas Fetherstonhaugh sang on this recording, made at Air Studios in July this year. You can hear the music below.

Highlights from Guys and Dolls

A short medley of some of the tunes from last Summer's production of Guys and Dolls is now available on the School website.

Click HERE to listen to it.

The Life of Pi

Just found this trailer for the forthcoming Life of Pi film - looks like it will be quite a spectacle.

Music For Foundation Day - Psalm 150

With Foundation Day Mass just over a week away I thought this video of the Choir of Westminster Cathedral performing Mawby's Psalm 150 might be of interest. This will be the Psalm setting for the day of our Mass too of course.

Very lovely singing indeed from one of the world's great choirs, conducted by Martin Baker. 

Boys Record for Danny Elfman

Following the recording of the Dark Shadow soundtrack last March, the Vaughan boys were back with American composer Danny Elfman last night,  recording for a new film to be released later this year (name to follow).

As last time, Danny was very lovely to the boys, and full of compliments about their singing.

This was the second session the boys have taken part in this first week of term, having been recording for another forthcoming Hollywood release at Air Studios earlier in the week. Further details will follow soon.

Music for Foundation Day

Foundation Day Mass at Westminster Cathedral, on Friday 21 September, is the first big occasion for the Schola this year. It will be wonderful to have the whole School gathered under one roof for Mass celebrated by His Grace, Archbishop Vincent Nichols.

Music to be sung that day includes Schubert's Mass in G, O Sacrum Convivium by Guerrero and Parry's I Was Glad.

Here is a clip of I was Glad, as sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey, directed by James O'Donnell, at the Royal Wedding last year (starting at about 2.30). If you look very carefully you might recognise one or two faces!

Jazz Legend to work with Big Band

Amazingly, in March next year the School is to welcome jazz legend Arturo Sandoval to the School to work with our Big Band. Further details will follow.

Arturo Sandoval is one of the greatest living jazz musicians, a world renowned trumpeter, composer and also a famous humanitarian.

Hear him playing A Night in Tunisia on this video clip!

Vaughan Schola Commisions James Macmillan

The Schola Cantorum has commissioned composer James MacMillan to write a piece for the choir to mark the 100th anniversary of the Vaughan in 2014. The motet will be sung at the Vaughan's Foundation Day service at Westminster Cathedral in September 2014.

Scottish composer James MacMillan is one of the world's greatest living composers and the leading Catholic composer of our day. He composes in all genres but is especially well know for his Catholic church music and was the composer of much of the music sung at the visit of Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.

Below is a video of MacMillan's composition, Tu Es Petrus, sung as the Pope entered Westminster Cathedral for his the Papal Mass during his visit.