The widely acclaimed professional a capella group, Voces8, visited St Benedict’s Ealing on 14th March, to work with the school’s choirs, Ealing Abbey choristers and pupils from local primary schools. The day culminated with an uplifting concert showcasing what pupils had learned.

Voces8 began the concert with music by Byrd and Rachmaninov before the youngest singers took to the stage to perform American and British folk songs, dazzling the audience with their enthusiastic singing in two and three parts. The St Benedict’s Consort Choir then joined Voces8 to sing Stanford’s Beati quorum via and Evening Prayer by the contemporary Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo, with the Ealing Abbey choristers singing his setting of Ubi caritas and Parson’s Ave Maria. The children’s delight at what they had achieved was clear for all to see.

St Benedict’s Headmaster Andrew Johnson said: ‘It was a great privilege to have Voces8 with us. Their perfectly blended voices, expressive and committed singing, as well as a sense of fun, was hugely inspiring for everyone.’

Participating schools included Christ the Saviour Primary Ealing, Little Ealing Primary, Mount Carmel Primary Ealing, North Ealing Primary, St Gregory’s Primary Ealing and St Benedict’s Junior and Senior Schools