Queen Anne's School, News & Events

Queen Anne's choir joined Shiplake College for a choral tour of Paris this weekend, from 22 to 24 January.

The choir's 65 members, including boys and girls aged 11 to 18 years, arrived in Paris on Friday afternoon for their first performance at Eglise de la Madeleine. The concert programme included pieces ranging from the 16th to 20th centuries by Pitoni, Mozart, Wesley and Agnus Dei by Andrew Carter.

The following morning, the pupils enjoyed some free time and a boat trip along the Seine to take in many of Paris' famous sights, before attending rehearsals at Notre Dame Cathedral for evening mass. Their performance included Mozart's Missa Brevis in D Minor and anthems by Wesley, Mozart and Tadman-Robins to a congregation of more than 1000. At the end of the service the choir also received the honour of an invitation by the Notre Dame clergy to process out of the Cathedral.

On the final day, the choir again sang their programme from Notre Dame to a congregation at the Sunday morning mass in the Neo-Gothic Basilique Ste Clotilde, once the most fashionable church in 19th century Paris.

The afternoon was spent enjoying some well-earned leisure time at the Louvre, before returning home in the evening.

John Padley, Director of Music, at Queen Anne's, said: ‘The tour was a great success with a very high standard of performance and a great deal of enjoyment. It provided the choir with a once in a lifetime opportunity to sing in venues that are so important in musical history'.

Paris Music Tour by Madeleine Kenyon and Sarah Jane Laing

At 3am on Friday 21 January 43 eager, yet sleepy, girls with three enthusiastic teachers set off to Paris, stopping off at Shiplake College on the way, make-up at the ready, we welcomed the boys. With a nine-hour journey ahead we plumped up the pillows and began eating the excessive amount of food. After various stops, filling up on food ‘of course' we exited the Euro tunnel into the magical country of France.

We arrived safely in Paris, later that day, and prepared for our first concert at Eglise de la Madeleine. Excited, however a little nervous we commenced our first performance of the tour. We were all mesmerised by the height and depth of the daunting church as we had never had the opportunity to sing in such impressive surroundings before. We all sang our very best and this resulted in even being asked for an encore!

After the first service of the tour, we arrived at the hotel FIAP Jean Monnet where we unpacked, explored, ate dinner and had a much needed early night. After a long nights sleep we woke with excitement for the day ahead. A continental breakfast at the hotel filled our stomachs as we set off for a trip on the Bateaux-Mouches along the river Seine. Cameras were at the ready as we floated past famous places such as The Eiffel Tower and the Notre Dame. After that, we were given the chance to roam around the centre of Paris where we bought souvenirs and ate typical French foods.

In the afternoon we had a coach transfer to La Cathédrale de Notre Dame. There, we spent time absorbing the great architecture and could hardly believe that we were being given the honour of singing in a mass service in such a famous and incredible church. The service itself was something never to forget and thanks goes to Mr Padley and Mr Bushby who provided us with such opportunity.

On the third and final day of the trip we sang in our last venue, Basilique Ste Clotilde, did a bit of last minute shopping and visited the Louvre before heading back to Queen Anne's. The trip was a huge success and the standard of singing was exceptional. A huge thank you goes once again to Mr Padley and Mr Bushby for making the trip such a huge success. The standard of music has improved drastically due their hard work and effort. Thank you!