Harrogate Ladiesโ€™ College Choir Named National Finalist

Posted: 17th January 2025

The Harrogate Ladiesโ€™ College Chapel Choir is a finalist in the 2025 National Choir Competition, the largest schools and community choir competition in the UK.

Twenty-six members of the Chapel Choir โ€“ which is made up of girls from Year 10 to Year 13 โ€“ will perform live at the Birmingham Symphony Hall on Tuesday 4 March, competing against 16 other schools in the Grand Final. Harrogate Ladiesโ€™ College is the only school in Yorkshire to be selected as a finalist in the senior category.

After being named a finalist in 2024, and finishing runners-up in 2017, Harrogate Ladies College Director of Music, Mrs Kate Morgan, is excited to return to Birmingham for the 2025 Grand Final.

โ€œThe Chapel Choir work so hard, and this is a wonderful result for their continued commitment,โ€ Mrs Morgan said.

“Everyone has been putting in extra work, as we know that high-quality choral singing needs regular rehearsal and commitment. Early starts, late finishes and high levels of commitment from choir members and their parents hasnโ€™t gone unnoticed in what was a very busy Autumn term.

โ€œChristmas concerts, performances at Bolton Abbey Priory, St Wilfridโ€™s Church and Ripon Cathedral together with putting our entries for this competition together made for a hectic end to 2024, but being selected in the Grand Final is a fantastic reward for everyone.โ€

The National Choir Competition was founded in 2008 and is hosted by Barnardoโ€™s, a leading childrenโ€™s charity which focuses on family support, homelessness and youth services.

Head of Choir and Performing Arts Prefect, Gracie, loves the sense of camaraderie and connection in the Chapel Choir.

โ€œChoir is a really lovely community,โ€ Gracie said.

โ€œWe all have each otherโ€™s backs, and there is a real sense of pride when we finish a concert.

โ€œWeโ€™re all very excited to perform in Birmingham again.โ€

If chosen as the overall winning senior choir, the Chapel Choir will be awarded a place at Barnardoโ€™s Young Supportersโ€™ Concert at Londonโ€™s Royal Albert Hall in November.

Categories: Harrogate Ladies' College Richard Huish College School News