Quirister Dubbing, Winchester College Chapel
On Tuesday evening of this week, we gathered in the chapel to celebrate the official admission of the 643rd group of probationer Quiristers into the Chapel Choir.
“There are to be received and admitted into our College near Winchester, with a view to charity, sixteen poor and needy boys of good condition and decent conversation, known to be less than twelve years old, knowing how to read and sing competently, to be called Quiristers, for serving, reading and singing in the said Chapel.”
When William of Wykeham founded Winchester College in 1382 he made provision for 16 young boys between the ages of 9 and 13 to sing in the Chapel. This choral foundation has been maintained ever since and now the Quiristers form a vital part of Winchester College’s Chapel Choir.
Following a beautiful service in which the Qs sang their hearts out, Pilgrims’ very own Austin, Wilfrid, Rafe and Anthony were each dubbed (admitted) by Winchester College’s headmaster, Ms Elizabeth Stone. They were then helped to put on their well-earned surplices by Head Quirister Will Wang, who then led each one back to their place in the choir stalls.
The ceremony finished with a superb performance by the whole choir of Charles Villiers Stanford’s anthem Te Deum in C and the congregation joining forces for the final hymn.
Along with Mr Butcher, Ms Stone, Mr McCann, Ms Baldock, Mr Leslie and the whole chapel staff and community, we as Quirister parents were very excited to officially welcome the admitted Qs and wished them the best in their music adventures for the next three years.
Review by:
Svetlana Karova
Q Parent
