Singing Competition Final 2016

The final of Forest’s annual Singing Competition took place on Thursday 17 November in the School’s Dining Hall.

The School was very pleased to welcome Ralph Allwood MBE, the former Precentor and Director of Music at Eton College and founder of the Eton Choral Courses, to adjudicate the heats and final.

During his visit, Ralph also gave a workshop with our Close Harmony Ensemble, giving some expert advice about their performance practice, blend and, most importantly, their communication with an audience.

This year, pupils entered the competition in three categories: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced and were also vying for the overall title of Singing Competition Champion.

Nelly Grogan Fenn won the beginners category with stunning version of ‘A dream is a wish your heart makes’ by David, Hoffmann and Livingstone.

Lucas Boardman, who sang ‘Fear no more the heat o’ the sun’ by Quilter, took home the Intermediate category, while Matthew Kingham, who sang ‘Tu se il cor’, Achilla’s aria from Julius Caesar by Handel, was awarded Advanced and the overall title of Singing Competition Champion.

Following the evening, Ralph tweeted saying: “I did have a tough choice! What an excellent competition!”