RGS Chamber Choir Sings Evensong at St George’s Chapel

The RGS Chamber Choir had the privilege of singing Evensong in St George’s Chapel, Windsor, on Wednesday. In the Service, the Choir sang Psalm 28, the Responses by Gabriel Jackson and Brewer’s setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in D. As the anthem, the Choir sang ‘Beati quorum via’ by Stanford, a beautiful six-part motet which had been suggested by Dr Ehlers and which the Choir sang really delicately and beautifully.

Before the Service, the Choir enjoyed a private tour of the Chapel, seeing, up close, the final resting places of monarchs such as Henry VIII, Charles I and Queen Elizabeth II. The tour also revealed several links between RGS and Windsor Castle’s Chapel: the current Director of Music at St George’s, James Vivian, is a former RGS student, as was Sir Reginald Bray, one of the major benefactors to the building and upkeep of the chapel and treasurer to King Henry VII in the early 1500s. Finally, the day brought back very special memories for History teacher and Head of Higher Education, Mr Hallett, who shared, “I sang as treble in the St George’s choir in the early 1980s and haven’t been back there since 1983. It was really splendid to be in the quire again, looking at the heraldry and the amazing architecture. I appreciated the guided tour and enjoyed going back to sing as part of the Chamber Choir”.

The Choir, comprising 24 students and seven members of staff, thoroughly enjoyed their private tour of the chapel, the chance to sing in such a special place – and enjoy sharing a meal afterwards. We congratulate them all and also thank several parents who travelled down from Worcester to attend the Service.