Music Department
Abbey Gate College Chapel Choir - Visit St Paul's Cathedral London April 2008
Abbey Gate College Chapel Choir
The College is well known throughout Chester and North Wales for the outstanding quality of its music. The Chapel Choir, Saighton Syncopators Dance Band and the Saightonians Barbershop group have made numerous contributions to the musical life of the City and further afield.
As Chester Cathedral has no choir school Abbey Gate College is amongst a group of schools fortunate to benefit from educating some of the choristers with the obvious advantages such boys and girls have in choral singing. Chorister bursaries of £800pa and Music scholarships of up1/3 in school fees are available each year.
Abbey Gate College Chapel Choir was formed in 1983. It began as a Chamber Choir of 15 members which has now expanded to a membership of over 65 which includes some recent ex-pupils who return for major concerts held outside the University terms. Over the past 23 years the Chapel Choir has sung in most of the English Cathedrals undertaking week long summer visits to Cathedrals in various parts of the country. Most recently these have included Chichester, Gloucester and York Minster.
In 1991 the Choir undertook its first tour abroad singing in Holland and Germany along with the school dance band (The Saighton Syncopators). Since then concert tours with the Choir have been to the USA twice, Austria, France and the Czech Republic.
Each Spring the Choir sings Evensong in St. Paul's Cathedral and has recently sung in St George’s Chapel , Windsor.
The choir has recorded four CDs .The first CD includes the Fauré Requiem, Zadok the Priest and the Hallelujah Chorus. The second CD 'Bright the Vision' was recorded in 1999. the final two are the ‘25th anniversary’ CD and a CD of live recordings made on tour in the Czech Republic in 2006.
The choir rehearses for two 40 minute sessions a week specializing in the vast choral repertoire from 1500 to the present day. Pupils are given a simple voice test to audition and many develop into very strong singers by the time they reach the 6th Form.
Saighton Syncopators
The College also has a Concert Band and ‘The Saighton Syncopators’ dance band. Both of these groups rehearse once a week. Instrumentalists and Singers also give regular solo performances inside and outside the College.
Musical Productions
 
 
Oliver Production
There is one major school production staged each year alternating between a Musical and a Play. Most recently the school has produced ‘Oliver’ and is hoping to stage ‘My Fair Lady’ in April 2008.
Music Events 2008
Thurs 7th Feb – Joint Concert with St. Andrew's Scots School from Buenos Aires Sports Hall 7.30pm
Thurs March 6th – Choir Rotary Concert at Eaton Hall Chapel
Sat March 29th - Choir Concert with International Organist, Carlo Curley - Chester Cathedral 7.30pm
Mon April 7th - Chapel Choir - Evensong at St. Paul's Cathedral, London
Tues April 29th – Abbey Gate College 30th Anniversary Service – Cathedral 7.30pm
Fri 20th June - Chapel Choir Concert at Whitewell Parish Church
Mon 14th – 18th July - Chapel Choir at Ely Cathedral
Wed 17th Sept – Chapel Choir Concert at Ruthin Parish Church
Daphne Herbert Choral Scholarship
Conditions of Award
1. The Award is valid from the 1st September of the year of acceptance until the end of the Sixth Form, subject to contribution, musical or otherwise, and is reviewed on an annual basis.
2. The value of the Award is up to one-third of school annual fees.
3. The candidate must satisfy both the school academic entrance examination conditions and the music test requirements outlined below.
4. The candidate must produce a music reference from a music teacher or choir master, to be brought on the day of the test.
5. The candidate must satisfy the following:
(a) to sing one prepared piece
(b) to sing a short piece at sight
(c) to show ability where possible by playing a prepared piece on one or more instruments
(d) to take aural tests at the individual's own standard
(e) to talk briefly about musical interests
6. Contact Mr Smith for further details.
Awarded by The Deeside House Educational Trust Limited
Music Exhibition
Conditions of Award
1. The Exhibition is valid from the 1st September of the year of acceptance until the end of the Sixth Form, subject to contribution, musical or otherwise, and is reviewed on an annual basis.
2. The value of the Exhibition is up to one-third of annual school fees.
3. The candidate must satisfy both the school academic entrance examination conditions and the music test requirements outlined below.
4. The candidate must produce a music reference from a music teacher or choir master which clearly indicates the candidate's musical enthusiasm and ability. This is to be brought by the candidate on the day of the test.
5. The candidate must satisfy the following at the time of application: (a) be of Grade 3-4 standard on one instrument (voice counts as an instrument) (b) be able to play, or seriously consider starting, a second instrument.
6. The candidate must satisfy the following at the time of the test: (a) perform one prepared piece on his/her main instrument (b) perform a short piece at sight on his/her main instrument (c) perform on a second instrument if one is learned (d) take aural tests at the individual's own standard (e) talk briefly about his/her musical interests
It is expected that the successful candidate will take a full and active part in the musical life of the school where possible, and will be forthcoming in participating in the many varied extra-curricular musical activities.
It is not a requirement of the Exhibition that the candidate be taught his/her instrument by Abbey Gate College staff, so if the candidate is happy with the present teacher he/she is quite at liberty to remain with that teacher.
For further details contact Mr Smith.
Awarded by The Deeside House Educational Trust Limited
Concert by St. Andrew's Scots School Buenos Aires
Thursday 7th February 2008 performance.
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Teaching Staff
Edward Hartwell Jones is our new singing teacher at Abbey Gate College. Edward is a past pupil of the school and returns after graduating from the Royal College of music in London. He is currently a Lay Clerk at Chester Cathedral Choir and performs in concerts all over the country. Click on the link to read more.
www.edhartwelljones.co.uk
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