Radio 3
listeners enjoyed a wonderful treat on Thursday 15 December, as an enchanting
new carol created by our Head of English, Nicholas Hopton was performed on air.
As one of
the six shortlisted finalists in the Radio 3 Carol Competition, Mr Hopton’s new
carol was performed by the BBC Singers during the Breakfast show. It was a wonderful surprise for us to discover that our
Head of English is also a very talented composer!
Using the
words from English text from the Middle
Ages, ‘Alleluia! A new work is come on hand’, he, along with amateur composers
across the country, were invited to submit a composition of up to four minutes
for a SATB (soprano, alto, tenor and bass) choir. His carol impressed the
panel of judges, which included Judith Weir, Master of the Queen’s Music and
David Hill, chief conductor of the BBC Singers, to earn him a well-deserved
place on the shortlist.
You
can listen to Mr Hopton’s carol and vote for him on the BBC 3 website here.
The competition winner will be announced on Thursday 22
December.