Despite the ferociously crowded rush hour trains, followed by the steep climb up Egham Hill, I always enjoy night-time trips out to Royal Holloway College. What a fabulous sight this Victorian wedding cake-type building is, lit up amongst the dark woody landscape. My photo shows the incredible decoration of the Chapel, but on this evening I was heading for the equally lofty Picture Gallery next door.
Composer/conductor Nathan James Dearden had assembled a programme entirely of my work, mostly for voices, and potentially challenging for the performers. I was initially concerned for Nathan that many members of the famous Chapel Choir (pictured) would be busy next door, and unavailable for our concert. But I shouldn’t have worried. Nathan has his own New Voices Consort, and a troop of almost forty singers turned up, singing a lengthy list of titles with confidence and great care for the right pitches.
This was an eloquent demonstration of what a vocal/choral stronghold RHUL has become; in every way a competitor for the Oxbridge choirs, and with a comparably eminent Music Department.
