Hitting the high notes, Senior Choral were crowned ‘Senior Choir of the Year’ at the finals of the Barnardo’s National Choral Competition held at the Royal Festival Hall in London yesterday (12 March). At the end of a day in which they competed against seven other school choirs, the 18 Downe House girls in Senior Choral were announced as winners to great applause, bringing their competition journey to a phenomenal conclusion.

This auditioned chamber choir is open to all girls in the Upper Fifth and Sixth Form. Winning the competition recognises the outstanding progress they have made over the past year under the expert direction of Director of Music, Dr Charlotte Exon and marks a crowning musical achievement for those girls in Upper Sixth who will leave Downe House in the summer.

Director of Music, Dr Charlotte Exon said, “What an achievement! I am so proud of all the girls for delivering a breath-taking performance. This is the first time we have entered a competition and it has been immensely rewarding to be part of it and to perform in such a prestigious venue.”

Each school performed two pieces. Senior Choral sang I Lift Up my Eyes by Bob Chilcott and the hit made famous by Aretha Franklin, I Say A Little Prayer. The performances were then judged by five adjudicators, including Douglas Coombes MBE, who set up the Barnardo’s National Choral Competition in 2008, and who will compose a piece for the winning school in each category. Linley Junior School won in the Junior category.

The evening was rounded off by a mass singing by all the choirs of You’ll Never Walk Alone, raising the rafters with the many young voices in unison.