Last Saturday, we held a 'Be a Quirister Morning' to welcome prospective Qs and their families to a taster session on a Q’s Choral Day.

First, they were seated in the congregation at Winchester College Chapel as Mr McCann briefed us on the life of a Quirister, the singing curriculum, services, concerts, rehearsals, and so on. We then walked into the choir stalls and performed Ave Maria by Gabriel Fauré to the guests to give them a sense of how a performance goes. After that, the prospective Qs went to the front of the stalls next to the senior Qs for guidance on how we learnt and practised a hymn.

Our visitors were very enthusiastic and showed much enjoyment and energy as they sang – very impressive! Mr Leslie then led the way and showed our guests to Q School where Year 6-8 Qs board. During the second half, after refreshments at school, there was an opportunity to speak with Mr Butcher and existing Q parents to share experiences. Decani went with Mr Cunningham to the organ loft at the College Chapel where he introduced the organ to the prospective Qs, and let them play it. Mr McCann, with Cantori, led the boys to Song School where the prospective Qs tried out the cassocks with help from current Qs. Afterwards, the two groups swapped over.

Finally, all the boys processed into the Chapel, with the parents sitting in the congregation, like we would do in a service, and performed the hymn we had just learnt that morning together. At the end of the session, the prospective Qs expressed how much they had really enjoyed the morning, and it was so much fun!

Ivor
Year 8 Quirister