Looking ahead to 2016-17

The year ahead promises to be another very exciting one for the musicians at the Vaughan.

Pupils are to perform at a whole host of different venues across London and beyond including St John’s, Smith Square, The London Coliseum, Westminster Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Winchester Cathedral (pictured) and alongside groups as varied as early music specialists His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts to the amazing National Youth Jazz Orchestra.

Choral highlights include a performance by the Schola Cantorum of Handel’s Messiah in December and of Vaughan Williams’ colossal Sea Symphony by the School Choir in April. The Schola will sing a concert of Venetian polychoral music in the glorious setting of Temple Church (pictured) with His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts in March whilst Sixth Form Choir sing Evensong at Selwyn College, Cambridge in November. Boys will sing in English National Opera’s production of Tosca during the Michaelmas Term and in Turandot at the Royal Opera House in July. The Carol Service will include the first performance of a new carol by Ben Parry, director of the National Youth Choir.

Orchestral music will include Brahms Symphony No 4 alongside our orchestral partners, Southbank Sinfonia in March whilst the Big Band are to play at The Bull’s Head, Barnes and the Half-Moon, Putney as well as working with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra in October.

There will be all the usual events as well of course, including the St Cecilia Concert in November, the Vaughan Carol Service at Christmas, the Spring Instrumental Concert in March, Early Evening Recitals and the Annual Music Competition. The year will end with the ever-popular musical production, which this year is to be Stephen Sondheim’s masterpiece, Sweeney Todd.