ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ musicians take their place in history as part of Westminster Abbey service and Windsor Castle Coronation Concert
Thursday 4 May 2023
ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ performers and composers, students and alumni feature across the Coronation weekend.
Master of the Choristers of Westminster Abbey, ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ alumnus, Andrew Nethsingha will direct the five new commissions in the main service, including a specially commissioned ‘Agnus Dei’ by composer and ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ alumnus, Tarik O’Regan and anthem by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
A string quartet formed of ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ students will perform at Windsor Castle on Sunday 7 May.
The ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ (ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ) is honoured that ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ musicians, both current students and alumni, have been invited to participate in the Coronation of King Charles III. ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ musicians will feature as both performers and composers, making artistic contributions across the weekend both as part of the Westminster Abbey service and the celebratory concert at Windsor Castle. ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ students will present a unique, collaborative performance at Windsor Castle on Sunday 7 May which will broadcast to a global audience. They will join members of The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal College of Art in a specially created one-off performance that combines music, dance, art and theatre in celebration of King Charles III’s Royal Patronages.
ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ alumni are involved throughout the weekend with a new Coronation Anthem ‘Make a Joyful Noise’ by Andrew Lloyd Webber, a newly commissioned ‘Agnus Dei’ by composer Tarik O’Regan, and Organist and Master of the Choristers of Westminster Abbey Andrew Nethsingha who will direct the five new commissions in the main service.
The Coronation weekend also features a number of musicians associated with the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ. The Coronation service on 6 May includes a two-part composition ‘Alleluia (O Clap your Hands)’ and ‘Alleluia (O Sing Praises)’ by ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ Visiting Professor and Fellow Debbie Wiseman. Sir Antonio Pappano and Sir John Eliot Gardiner who both have an Honorary Doctorate from the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ, will be conducting the Coronation Orchestra and Monteverdi choir respectively.
Stephen Johns, Artistic Director of the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ, commented: ‘We are honoured and delighted that performers from the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ have been chosen to represent Royal patronages in the celebration Coronation concert at Windsor Castle. King Charles III has been President of the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ for 30 years, and his obvious and deep love of music has been a great support and inspiration for generations of students. It is a particular pleasure that one of our musicians will be playing on an instrument from our collection itself owned and played by His Majesty.’
Performing in the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ string quartet are Katherine Yoon (first violin), Betania Johnny (second violin), Declan Wicks (viola) and Marion Portelance (cello) who will be playing on a cello that once belonged to King Charles III and is now in the collection of the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ. They will perform a new arrangement of an iconic song from West Side Story with the Chorus of The Royal Opera and a visual backdrop on to Windsor Castle created by the Royal College of Art. The performance will include choreography from The Royal Ballet’s principal dancers, Francesca Hayward and Marcelino Sambé, and the Royal Shakespeare Company will perform excerpts from a Shakespeare play featuring actors Ncuti Gatwa and Mei Mac.
The Coronation Concert brings together global music icons and contemporary stars in celebration of the historic occasion with the line-up including bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel who has an Honorary Doctorate from the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ and tenor Andrea Bocelli who supports the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ through the Andrea Bocelli Foundation-Community Jameel Scholarship. The concert will broadcast live on BBC One and BBC Radio 2.
King Charles III has a longstanding relationship with the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ. He became President of the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ in 1993, taking over from Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and has visited the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ on many occasions meeting students and staff, conferring honours to musicians, and in 2021 he officially opened the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s new facilities created by the More Music redevelopment.
