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A week of evensong at Westminster Abbey

Abbey Gate College Chapel Choir, under the direction of Stewart Smith, has just returned from five days of singing Evensong in Westminster Abbey. 

The 50 strong Choir aged 12-18 performed a wide range of music from Orlando Gibbons to Herbert Howells.  A number of solos were performed by Laura Rushforth and Matthew Heath who sang the Caticles in G by Stanford.  The weekday Evensong’s were sung during the start of the Abbey Choir’s summer vacation.  Westminster Abbey’s tourist numbers are up by 30% this year as a result of the Royal Wedding in May so Abbey Gate College had the pleasure of singing to a congregation of over 600 each day.Whilst in London the Choir visited The Albert Hall, and were fortunate to be allowed to sing in this fantastic and prestigious concert hall, just 24 hours before the first night of the proms.  The Choir also experienced the immense acoustic in the Tate Modern when they sang in the main entrance, which is the former turbine room of the original power station.The Choir’s visit to Westminster Abbey was the latest in its annual tour season and next year the week long visit will be to Norwich Cathedral.