Carol Service Celebrates the Season Through Music and Reflection

The annual RGS Worcester Carol Service offered a memorable celebration of the festive season as the School community gathered in Worcester Cathedral on Monday this week. Parents, pupils, staff, Governors and friends came together for a reflective and uplifting evening that highlighted the strength of music at RGS and the impressive talents of pupils across all year groups.

This year’s programme featured performances from the Senior Choir, Chamber Choir and Junior Choir, directed and supported by Director of Music, Mr Jamie Conway, and teachers of Music, Mrs Tilling and Mr Adlington, with organist Mr Wilderspin accompanying the service. The opening verse of Once in Royal David’s City was beautifully delivered by five pupils, Carolina De Fano, Giorgio De Fano, Maia Goold, Iona Laidler and James Russell, who sang unaccompanied and without microphones, their voices carrying clearly through the Cathedral. The Senior Choir introduced the musical sequence with a poised rendition of The Truth from Above. Later in the Service, the Senior Choir returned with an energetic interpretation of Ding Dong! Merrily on High. UVVE, the Upper Voices Vocal Ensemble directed by Mrs Tilling and comprising Sixth Former students, Rachel Crookall, Larissa Edwards Hall, Becca Gardner and Izzy Jones, gave a standout performance of a particularly demanding arrangement of In Dulci Jubilo.

The Chamber Choir contributed performances of Gabriel’s Message, Candlelight Carol, accompanied with assurance by Sihan Fu and the reflective Bethlehem Down. The Junior Choir offered a charming performance of Away in a Manger and later opened the combined rendition of In the Bleak Midwinter. The Senior Choir took up the second verse before all choirs joined together for a moving final verse that many described as one of the most memorable moments of the evening. Congregational hymns were sung throughout, with the festive contribution of the trumpeters Reuben Colclough, James Walter and Mr Adlington.

The Service was framed by words of welcome, prayer and blessing from The Venerable Nikki Groarke, Archdeacon of Dudley, whose involvement added greatly to the occasion. Readings were shared by members of the School community, beginning with Mr Andrew Greenway, Chair of Governors, and Mrs Rosemary Ham, Vice Chair of Governors. Pastoral Secretary, Mrs Margaret Sturdy’s reading of Christina Rossetti’s Christmas Eve held particular significance as she marks her departure from RGS Worcester after twenty years of dedicated service. Further readings were delivered by pupils Evie Stennett, George McMillan, Ffion Hawley, Jackson Till, Isabelle Fawcett and Freddie Parry, alongside contributions from Middle School and Lower School pupils and a School Captain, who read Thomas Hardy’s The Oxen. The Headmaster concluded the sequence of readings with St John’s account of the Incarnation.

The evening provided a meaningful moment of community and celebration at the end of a busy term. A collection was taken in support of Worcester Snoezelen and we extend our thanks to all who contributed. We are also incredibly grateful to Worcester Cathedral for welcoming the School once again and to everyone involved in preparing, performing and supporting this special event.