Hot off the tremendous success of our performance of Elgar’s The Kingdom on 16th November—where over 200 Tiffin Choir students, community singers, a professional orchestra and top-tier soloists filled the Sports Hall under the baton of James Day—the Music Department launched straight into a whirlwind of festive performances!
We kicked things off with our annual Messiah at St. Luke’s Church, a sold-out performance featuring the Tiffin Choirs, standout Tiffin soloists and professional orchestra. We performed it again just weeks later at St. Gabriel’s Church in Pimlico.
Next up, the Tiffin Choirs joined the renowned London Mozart Players Brass for a spirited holiday concert at Smith Square in London. Members of the Choir then delivered a stunning rendition of Britten’s luminous Ceremony of Carols during a lunchtime concert at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and the Chamber Choir capped off the day with an Alumni Carol Concert at St. Andrew’s in Holborn.
Meanwhile, many of our Concert Treble Choir boys stepped into the recording studio at London’s iconic Air Studios to lay down vocals for a major upcoming film advert (stay tuned—big news ahead!). They also brought festive cheer to a private Christmas event at the Tower of London.
The Tiffinians joined forces with the Tiffin Children’s Chorus and the Canbury Singers for a wonderfully festive Christmas concert back at St. Luke’s.
Our Instrumental Ensembles lit up the Main Hall with music ranging from Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite (Concert Band) and Purcell’s Rondo from Abdelazer (Tiffin Academy Orchestra) to George Ezra’s Shotgun (Guitar Ensemble) and Eleanor Rigby (Flute Choir). Also on the programme was the newly formed Tiffin Sinfonia, making its debut performance with selections from Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, and the Tiffin Swing Band, which ended the evening with selections from Sammy Nestico and Paul Murtha.
Our swingin’ Christmas Jazz Evening also filled the Main Hall, with toe-tapping performances by our jazz and swing ensembles, led by the wonderful Joe Waymouth, who we wish the very best as he embraces new and exciting endeavours away from Tiffin in the New Year. We have so much gratitude for the joy, energy and inspiration he has shared with us!
As we approached the end of term, the Choir presented their beloved Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at Kingston Parish Church, followed by a beautifully atmospheric reprise of Britten’s Ceremony of Carols in the newly renovated Kingston County Hall.
Finally, we wrapped up this dazzling season of music with our School Carol Services at Kingston Parish Church. What a way to end the year—bursting with talent, energy and festive spirit!