This summer, the Chapel Choir tour took our choristers to Gloucester Cathedral. The boys sang at daily services over the course of the six days, covering for the cathedral’s resident choir during their summer break. From Evensongs to a Sunday morning Eucharist, the choristers rose to the challenge with dedication and joy, relishing in the spectacular setting of the Cathedral Quire and its amazing acoustics.
The boys stayed at Cheltenham Ladies’ College in a Sixth Form boarding house, and they rehearsed both at the college – right next to its iconic silent Marble Corridor – and in the Quire of the Cathedral. Despite their extremely busy singing schedule, the boys manage to fill their downtime with plenty of fun activities, including swimming, visiting a local food festival, bowling, swinging through the trees at Go Ape, climbing the cathedral tower, visiting Harry Potter film locations around the cathedral, and competing in the ever-popular Chapel Choir Tour Quiz Night.
Head of Choral Music, Keith Roberts, praised the choristers, saying, “The choir rose brilliantly to the challenge of so much singing in a short time, and there were plenty of amazing musical moments. Good fun was had by all, and we are looking forward to planning for an overseas summer trip next year.”
The tour was not only a musical highlight but also a chance for all of the boys in the Chapel Choir to bond as a team, forge lasting friendships and create memories that will stay with them for years to come.
