Last Thursday evening, congregation of more than 210 alumnae, parents and friends gathered in the iconic Victorian Gothic church of All Saints, Margaret Street, for a memorable evening of festive music, carols and readings.
The Junior Consort, Chamber Choir, and Alumnae Choirs performed beautifully, led by Miss Marie-Claire Bray-Arthur, Director of Music, and Mrs Bethan Dudley Fryar, Director of Vocal Studies. We were also thrilled to see that participation in the Alumnae Choir has steadily continued to grow with a number of recent Leavers choosing to celebrate with us. The Choir was launched at the 2022 A Ceremony of Carols.
Here, Anna S, Upper Sixth, reflects on the event:
On Thursday 4 December, the Chamber Choir and Junior Consort travelled to perform in the Carols By Candlelight Service at All Saints, Margaret Street, a beautiful church in central London. With the day-out being one of the highlights of the school year, we started with an eagerly anticipated (and delicious) lunch at Vapiano on the Tottenham Court Road, before rehearsals began in earnest back in the church. To our delight, many passers-by wandered in to listen.
Excitement really began to build as mulled wine and mince pies were being prepared and the whole church was being lit by candlelight. By the time parents, grandparents and alumnae had arrived the church looked truly magical and had a very festive atmosphere about it.
The service opened with Carol of the Bells, performed by the Chamber Choir joined by the Alumnae Choir – it was a great performance, bringing together many generations of Calne girls. Junior Consort also sang brilliantly, and by the end of the evening the vicar commented that St Mary’s Calne sounded the best of all the schools he had heard that week.
Overall, it was lovely to be involved and a huge thank you is owed to Miss Bray- Arthur, Mrs Black, and to all the staff involved for putting the occasion together. For many of us, it marked the official beginning of Christmas.’
The event was kindly sponsored by the Calne Girls Association so that all proceeds raised from ticket sales, including the retiring collection at the end, would go to the Calne Foundation Trust Bursary Fund. I am delighted to confirm that the total figure raised was more than £4000. Generous support of the Calne Foundation Trust has, as one of its objectives, allowed it to offer music awards to musically enquiring girls both enabling individuals to flourish and ensembles to be elevated, to create truly memorable Calne events.
Thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to welcoming you back to All Saints, Margaret Street in 2026.
Dr Gemma Wise, Development and Alumnae Relations Manager
