Chapel Choir
The Chapel Choir is HLC’s musical jewel in the crown. Girls are trained within the fine tradition of English choral singing and sing to a very high standard. Over thirty girls sing in the Choir and are responsible for the music used in worship at the College. It is this regular commitment to singing that maintains the high standard.
Girls join the choir by audition and remain in Chapel Choir until they leave the College. Their repertoire is a diverse mix of liturgical music for worship mixed with standard choral works and other lighter music such as close harmony and popular arrangements. The Choir has broadcast on radio and television, including services of Matins and Compline for the BBC and BBC World Service, Sunday Half Hour for Radio 2, and the Daily Service live on Radio 4. The girls regularly sing Evensong in York Minster and Durham and Ripon Cathedrals, and have undertaken many tours over the years, including Russia, the Czech Republic, Vienna, Germany, Paris and Poland.
Recent highlights have been the hosting of a ‘Come and Sing Fauré’s Requiem’, when the Choir were joined by members of the local community, a successful choral and organ concert in collaboration with Professor Graham Barber, and winning the ‘Choral Challenge’ championship class at the 2011 Harrogate Competitive Music Festival.
Gallery Choir
Over thirty pupils from Prep 5 and 6 at Highfield and Upper 3, Lower 4 and Upper 4 (Years 7 to 9) at the College meet twice a week for choral training and rehearsal. The Choir sings at some Chapel services during the year and contributes to school concerts, competitions and festivals. The Choir acts as a training choir for the Chapel Choir, but has its own identity. Gallery Choir won their class at the 2011 Harrogate Competitive Music Festival and have been asked to participate in a community concert for Christmas 2011.