Heavenly music from the Old Salopian Choir

The annual Salopian Club Epiphany Carol Service delivered an evening of uplifting music and readings in a new atmospheric setting.

Every year an Old Salopian choir is assembled by composer Richard Eteson (G 1989-93) and conductor Patrick Craig (Ch 1982-87) and with just an hour’s rehearsal perform a wonderful selection of transcendent choral pieces to celebrate the coming of the three kings in the Christmas story.

This year the service moved to the new venue of St Mary le Strand often described as the finest eighteenth-century church in London. A wonderful example of baroque design it is a magnificent sight in the middle of the Strand.

Highlights included a new carol commissioned especially for the service written by Sarah Dacey whose father Richard was Director of Choral Music at Shrewsbury School.  Sarah, who is a professional soprano, sang a soaring solo which added a heavenly dimension to the opening sequence: The Shepherd Scenes from Handel’s Messiah.

There was also a marvellous nod to the history of music at Shrewsbury School with the three solos in ‘We three Kings’ sung by Andrew Auster and John Moore, both former Directors of Music and Richard Dacey.

Afterwards there was a fun and lively gathering at the Lyceum Tavern. Just a stone’s throw away.

Evert year the congregation grows for this event. If you’re in London around the time of Epiphany and you can attend the service you will not be disappointed!