HCS invites local schools to Fauré Requiem outreach event

Fauré Requiem

Almost 400 pupils from schools across Herefordshire and beyond gathered at Hereford Cathedral last night to perform the Fauré Requiem.

The huge event, organised as part of Hereford Cathedral School’s music outreach programme, also featured music by Mozart, Debussy and more modern pieces such as Hans Zimmer’s Time and Bedelt’s music from Pirates of the Caribbean.   

Hereford Cathedral School choirs and musicians were joined in the cathedral by the local schoolchildren along with a wealth of Old Herefordians, parents and HCS staff.
The guest schools were Bishop’s Castle Primary School, Bishop Hooper CE Primary School, Pembridge CE Primary School, Cross Ash Primary School, Gorsley Goffs Primary School, Cradley CofE Primary School, Aylestone School, St Paul’s CofE Primary School, Rougemont School. Also invited were the HCS Saturday Morning Music School and Herefordshire Junior Youth Choir.
 

Faure Requiem

A highlight of the evening was when HCS Year 13 pupil Judah Moore conducted a symphony orchestra made up of professional musicians and his peers while they performed Night Sky, a piece he composed for his A-Level music studies. Judah joined HCS four years ago in Year 9, before which he had never had a music lesson.

HCS Head of Academic Music Mr Andrew Semple, who tutored Judah through the composition, commented: “It has been a great pleasure to teach Judah, fascinated as he has become by the craft of musical composition. He is hoping to pursue the study of composition as part of a Music degree at Durham, so it may be that last night’s premiere of Night Sky may not be the last time that we hear his music in Hereford.”

HCS Director of Music Mr David Evans, who organised the event, said: “A big pat on the back to all 392 singers who put their all into the Fauré, a great effort all round! We look forward to you joining us for Remembrance or Advent in November, and again next March when we hope to perform a work by Karl Jenkins.” 

Commenting on the Fauré concert, HCS Headmaster Mr Paul Smith Tweeted: “What I like about HCS...that the choir in last night's concert consisted of pupils, parents, staff & friends - a true community.”

St Paul’s Primary School Tweeted: “Thanks you for giving us this fantastic opportunity.”

Click here to see a Facebook album of photos from the event, taken by Hepburn Photography

More photos can be found here.

St Pauls