Choral Groups

Choral singing is an important part of the Caterham School music department and our choirs sing a wide range of musical styles- from early church music to gospel. Aside from church services, choirs perform at the annual ‘Music & Dance Live!’ evening and the Musical Theatre Evening. An annual performance takes place after the Remembrance Service in a moving Recital of Reflection & Contemplation. Our Chapel Choir and Chamber Choir regularly tour in Europe and concerts take place in central London. In 2017, these choirs gave memorable concerts in Prague, Czech Republic and in 2018 they performed in Flanders, Belgium and gave a heart-stopping performance under the Menin Gate. In 2019, our choirs performed at magnificent venues in Bonn and Cologne and in 2020, a fantastic highlight was singing Mass at St. Peter’s, Vatican City in Rome. The most recent tour to Normandy included a performance at the magnificent basilica in Lisieux. Our Chamber Choir and Chapel Choir choir sing Evensong at venues that include Chapel Royal, Hampton Court and Rochester Cathedral.

CHAMBER CHOIR
Our auditioned, a capella mixed voiced choir sings early church music by composers such as Purcell and Tallis. The choir has been heard on BBC Radio and in 2017 they toured to Prague where they gave a stunning performance of Allegri’s Miserere. Choral singing days and workshops are offered to Chamber Choir; in the past, workshops with Apollo 5, a professional a capella group. Alongside ETS, our Chapel Choir, the Chamber Choir has performed at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican in Rome- a highlight of their impressive achievements. On occasion the Chamber Choir supports other ensembles; providing the backing vocals for soloists and Symphony Orchestra as part of our celebration of the music of James Bond films in 2019 and as part of the Musical Theatre Evening, most recently performing the uplifting anthem ‘You Will Be Found’ from Dear Evan Hansen.  

Click here to hear to hear a recording of the Chamber Choir performing ‘Miserere’ by Gregorio Allegri:

 

Click here to hear a recording of the Chamber Choir performing ‘E’en So Lord Jesus, Quickly Come’ by Paul Manz:

 

 

ETS (Eric Thiman Singers)
The Eric Thiman Singers (ETS) is an auditioned chapel choir set up in 2010 as a tribute to Old Caterhamian Eric Thiman, composer and organist. They have toured in Europe to Paris, Brussels, Prague and Cologne and they have performed at some impressive venues. The choir played a major role in the School’s bicentenary celebrations and sang as part of the service at Westminster Abbey and at a celebration concert at St John’s Smiths Square. They also sang for the Duke of Kent when he visited the School. The choir is made up of singers from both the Prep and First to Third Year pupils in the Senior school. ETS recorded an album of the works of Eric Thiman in 2016 and this was released on CD. The album is also available on Itunes and Spotify. Alongside the Chamber Choir, ETS performed at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican in Rome- a highlight of their impressive achievements. Their most recent tour abroad was to Normandy, France where they performed at the stunning Lisieux Basilica. The training choir for ETS is Junior ETS (JETS)- a fantastic ensemble from Caterham Prep School with pupils from Year 3 to Year 6. 

Click here to hear a recording of ETS performing ‘Evening In The Birchpath’ by Eric Thiman:

 

     

VOCALPOINT
Previously the mixed-voice senior choir, Vocalpoint performed large scale choral works such as Howard Goodall’s ‘Requiem’ and Mozart’s ‘Great Mass in C Minor’. Together with the E.T.S. the choir played a major role in the School’s bicentenary celebrations and sang as part of the service at Westminster Abbey and at a celebration concert at St John’s Smiths Square. Together with other Caterham School choirs, Vocalpoint has performed Faure’s ‘Requiem’ and a jazz setting of a mass by Steve Dobrogosz. Vocalpoint is now a girls’ choir who perform musical theatre, pop and film music. Highlights have been their performances in the Live Lounge concerts and a stunning performance of Handel’s ‘Ombra mai fu’ together with the string orchestra.

CLOSE HARMONY
Close Harmony welcomes Caterham’s aspiring lower voice/changing voice singers in the First Year to Upper Sixth exploring modern repertoire and bringing the genre up to date. They have performed across the school calendar showcasing their beautifully blended sound. Like Vocalpoint, this vocal group performs songs from musical theatre, pop and film.