Forward July 2014 | Page 6

CHAPEL CENTENARY From the Choirmaster As part of celebrations for the centenary of the Guildford Grammar School Chapel, the Chapel Choir participated in a liturgical and concert setting of the Mass in Celebration for the Centenary of the Chapel of St Mary and St George by the distinguished Australian composer, Gerard Brophy. The work, which took approximately 40 minutes to perform, was especially written for the capacity of the Chapel Choir and the superb acoustics and architecture of the School Chapel. The Chapel Choir, which consisted of 45 students from Years 5 to 12, collaborated with Australia’s finest classical vocal group, The Song Company, the international organist Daniel Trocmé-Latter and the celebrated didgeridoo player William Barton. Although the rehearsal process was extremely demanding for the choristers, a considerable number of whom only joined the ensemble at the start of the year, the event was extremely rewarding for all of the staff and students involved. A special mention must be made of Angus Grigson (7Fr), who sang a beautiful solo in the Sanctus in his first performance with the Chapel Choir. The opportunity to perform alongside professional singers was appreciated by all the choristers who learnt a great deal about the concentration and discipline required to produce music at the highest level. The Director of The Song Company, Mr Roland Peelman, conducted both performances and worked tirelessly to achieve the level of detail and polish that made the performance so memorable. Earlier in the week The Song Company presented short performances to the School during Congregational singing practice and participated in workshops with choirs in the Preparatory School. Perhaps the most memorable of the mass movements was the Credo, an unusually long Latin text that is rarely sung because of its complexity. The treble and alto choristers were spread out along the ‘monk’s walk’ or the gallery above the Chapel, repeating a haunting refrain – ‘Credo in unum Deum’ (I believe in one God) - while the tenors and basses sang the text in plainchant above the evocative tones of the didgeridoo. Special thanks must be given to Miss Anita Fuhrmann, the Preparatory School Music Teacher for her work preparing the treble choristers and to Mr Kieran Hurley for his delicate and stylish playing of the Himalayan Singing Bowls. The Chapel Choir hope to perform the work in Term 3 and members of the School community are encouraged to attend and hear this remark