In April members of our Chapel Choir took part in a mammoth Sponsored Swim to raise funds for their Tour in August. Monies have been counted and the total amount raised has just been announced!

Last Friday, 3 May, was the inaugural St John’s Singing Day which took place all day in the NBH.

In total over 150 children aged between 9 and 13 years spent a day of fun and music making.  Of the 150 children, approximately 100 were visitors to St John’s. The choirs of Oakwood School, Sherborne House School and King’s Court School joined our St John’s Junior School Choir, Girls’ Choir and the Chapel Choir.

During Easter Week our Chapel Choir became the ‘choir-in-residence’ of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. 

The Choir were invited by the Cathedral to deputise for the Cathedral Choir for the week, after they sang a one off service there last summer. It is an enormous privilege to sing in such a world famous building, but to be invited to sing all the services for the week is a wonderful achievement for our Choir.

St John’s Chapel Choir has been busy raising thousands for charity and good causes over recent weeks.  As well as raising funds for their choir tours, the Chapel Choir has raised money for Rotary charities; St Mary’s Church; Portchester Castle, and Canine Partners.

Our Chapel Choir once again achieve excellence at the 2013 Portsmouth Music Festival.

The 42 boys entered two categories – the free choice and religious songs. There were many choirs who entered on the day ranging from Primary Schools, Secondary School, Prep Schools and open age choirs. 

Our Chapel Choir has just released ‘Vatican Voices’ - a CD of live recordings from their Choir Tour to Italy, including nine items from Mass at St Peter’s Basilica, The Vatican.

On Wednesday 5 December we hosted our annual ‘Community Carols’ in the school’s Chapel. The concert was well attended – with nearly 100 members of the local community joining us to celebrate Christmas.

The Junior School Choir joined the Salvation Army for the annual Carols at the King's concert, singing to a packed house of over 1000 people on Sunday 2 December.

Our Chapel Choir has just returned from a ‘once-in a lifetime’ tour of Italy. While many school children were making the most of the holidays, the 42 choristers of the Choir were singing in some of the world’s most famous Cathedrals.

The two-week tour started on Monday 20 August, and just two days in the Choir sung in Pisa Cathedral followed by a performance in Florence Cathedral on the Thursday. On day five the Choir sang Choral Mass in Assisi Cathedral and after their evening meal left Assisi for Rome.

It has recently been confirmed by the Vatican that the St John’s Chapel Choir has been granted a rare audience with Pope Benedict XVI, when they visit Rome in August.

After having performed as the Choir in Residence at Windsor Castle for the past two summers, it came as welcome news that nine members of the St John’s College Chapel Choir had been invited to attend the ceremony of the Order of the Garter at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on 18 June.

Watch our Chapel Choir take part in Easter Praise this weekend.

Our Chapel Choir was invited to join the 800 strong congregation of St Mary’s Church in Fratton to take part in the BBC’s Songs of Praise. The three episodes filmed will be broadcast between now and March 2013, with the first to be aired this Sunday – Easter Sunday.

Members of the highly acclaimed St John’s Chapel Choir are celebrating after they were awarded the Bertram Bradshaw Trophy for the most outstanding choral performance at the 2012 Portsmouth Music Festival - for the second successive year!

Just as members of our Chapel Choir were getting over the excitement of leading the Pontifical High Mass at the Vatican they were informed that they have been accepted to sing the Vigil Mass in the Papal Archbasilica in Rome!

They have been performing for less than three years, but already reached such acclaim that the 42 choristers of the St John’s Chapel Choir are to lead the Pontifical High Mass at the Vatican this summer.

The award-winning choir will depart on Monday 20 August. The choir will then head to Rome where they will lead the Pontifical High Mass in the Vatican on Sunday 26 August.