This was at St John’s Church, Alresford – a new venue for the Qs but hopefully one to be repeated. The welcome by the organisers was fantastic and the boys felt very spoiled with their choice of two mains AND two deserts by the concert organisers! 

The Qs began their busy programme of (mostly) English music at 7 p.m. following Howard’s introduction to the audience. The boys were ready – hair combed, ruffs tweaked and concentration hats on – and were clearly focused on producing an engaging evening for those who had ventured out on this rainy cold April evening. 

As some boys are almost at the end of their Q journey, it was an excellent opportunity to showcase all they have learned over the last four years. It never ceases to amaze me how once nervous-looking probationers turn into assured soloists in a matter of years. Sam, Seb and James H were able to confidently deal with numerous solos, as well as the next year coming through, Rian, Timothy and Patrick. It is always tricky for the Year 8s as voices start to deepen, but James P was essential not only for efficient page turning for Ben who was accompanying on the piano, but also in drumming up sales of the most recent chapel choir CD. 

There was so much excellent music making in the programme but, to mention a few highlights, there was a wonderfully expressive rendition of Ex Ore Innocentium by John Ireland. This has long been a favourite of trebles and one that the boys have worked on for their recent recording. The beautiful solo first voice (sung by Seb) and the interplay of the two part texture when contemplating Christ’s agony never ceases to move the listener. We also had an example of a work by Winchester College’s own Head of Academic Music and Composition, Oliver Tarney, ‘Christ Be With Me’ who regularly sings with the choir. This strong connection between Winchester College and England’s rich choral music history was also borne out by pieces by Samuel Wesely, George Dyson and Malcolm Archer, all of whom had been involved in with chapel music. There were also moments when the boys sang unconducted, such as ‘Down by the Salley Gardens’ which forced the boys to really listen to each other and show how tight an ensemble they can be. The Ash Grove by Benjamin Britten, another unconducted number, took a well-known deceptively simple English folk song, but the piano accompaniment often echoed the melody half a bar behind the voices and towards the end of the piece even heads into a completely different key to the voices! The boys were not at all distracted by the strange goings-on from the piano and remained focussed on giving a graceful and poignant rendition of this beautiful piece. 

And so, after an enthusiastic applause from a thoroughly entertained audience, the boys went home to get a good night's sleep before being back for rehearsals in the morning for Sunday Eucharist. All in a day’s work for a Q. 

Lucy Higgs (mother of Patrick)