CE Chapel of Rugby School Wed, 22nd June 2022 [R]

[Finzi4ever]

So have the fees… £38,454 boarding p.a.

Still, Dr Arnold would be very impressed with this quality of singing. The sound was decidedly mature, so I wonder what proportion of 'The Temple Consort' are pupils.

[Keraulophone]

F4e, I do know of one pro tenor who has sung in these Rugby broadcasts, though not this one.

[Ein Heldenleben]

The chaplain’s interminable introduction has no place on CE. It was addressed to the radio audience not to the congregation (as suggested by others) and while maybe a sentence of context is fine, this was way over the top.

Did any one else think this was a bit of a plug for the school?
Why don’t state schools this sort of on air promotion?

[jonfan]

Did any one else think this was a bit of a plug for the school?
Why don’t state schools this sort of on air promotion?

Yes good idea but how many state schools take part in CE?

[Ein Heldenleben]

Yes good idea but how many state schools take part in CE?

Quite a few more would if they had £38k to spend per pupil rather than £5k .
Apologies for the rant. It’s just that those end of term homilies from heads always get up my nose - be they state school or public !

[DracoM]

Did any one else think this was a bit of a plug for the school?
Why don’t state schools this sort of on air promotion?

Dreadful.

[ardcarp]

Did any one else think this was a bit of a plug for the school?
Why don’t state schools [do] this sort of on air promotion?

On a wider issue, the state (ho ho) of music in most state schools is fairly mediocre...but with some notable exceptions.
Even singing a hymn in morning assembly is a thing of the past, let alone the Holy Offices!

[cat]

I get the impression that there are quite a few state schools that would be capable of broadcasting on R3, but only one has done so, once. Quite a few state schools sing evensong at cathedrals as visiting choirs, and there are plenty of state schools that specialise in music. West London Free School for example has sung at Westminster Abbey.

[jonfan]

Some cathedral choirs recruit from a number of schools both state and private which negates the possibility of pressing a publicity button. Lincoln, Wakefield and St David’s come to mind.

[subcontrabass]

Some cathedral choirs recruit from a number of schools both state and private which negates the possibility of pressing a publicity button. Lincoln, Wakefield and St David’s come to mind.

You can add Carlisle to that list (their Choir School closed in 1935).

Bristol Cathedral recruits probationers from local primary schools, but all choristers from age 11 attend Bristol Cathedral Choir School, which has been a state comprehesive school for some years.

[ardcarp]

A bit more about Bristol Cathedral School:

Bristol Cathedral Choir School is a mixed gender non-selective musical Secondary Academy, located in the Cabot area of Bristol, England. Until 2008 it was known as Bristol Cathedral School. It is situated next to Bristol Cathedral, in the centre of the city. The choristers at Bristol Cathedral are educated at the school, which has a strong musical tradition. The school is a day school and has no boarders. The school admits some pupils each year based on musical aptitude, as well as admitting probationary choristers. That is the school's only form of selection, all other pupils are chosen at random via a lottery system

My bold on the bits that may be of interest. The lottery system seems a bit strange...and may be seen by some as unfair as the dreaded 11+

[Cockney Sparrow]

Some cathedral choirs recruit from a number of schools both state and private which negates the possibility of pressing a publicity button. Lincoln, Wakefield and St David’s come to mind.

+St Albans (Parish church until about 1877).

[Subtuum]

A bit more about Bristol Cathedral School:

Bristol Cathedral Choir School is a mixed gender non-selective musical Secondary Academy, located in the Cabot area of Bristol, England. Until 2008 it was known as Bristol Cathedral School. It is situated next to Bristol Cathedral, in the centre of the city. The choristers at Bristol Cathedral are educated at the school, which has a strong musical tradition. The school is a day school and has no boarders. The school admits some pupils each year based on musical aptitude, as well as admitting probationary choristers. That is the school's only form of selection, all other pupils are chosen at random via a lottery system

My bold on the bits that may be of interest. The lottery system seems a bit strange...and may be seen by some as unfair as the dreaded 11+

The King's (The Cathedral) School, Peterborough and The Minster School, Southwell are also state-funded choir schools.

[subcontrabass]

A bit more about Bristol Cathedral School:

Bristol Cathedral Choir School is a mixed gender non-selective musical Secondary Academy, located in the Cabot area of Bristol, England. Until 2008 it was known as Bristol Cathedral School. It is situated next to Bristol Cathedral, in the centre of the city. The choristers at Bristol Cathedral are educated at the school, which has a strong musical tradition. The school is a day school and has no boarders. The school admits some pupils each year based on musical aptitude, as well as admitting probationary choristers. That is the school's only form of selection, all other pupils are chosen at random via a lottery system

My bold on the bits that may be of interest. The lottery system seems a bit strange...and may be seen by some as unfair as the dreaded 11+

The school is relatively small and is very heavily over-subscribed with applicants, so the lottery seems to be a way of making access fair for all, rather than privileging certain categories (as happens with many church schools).

[ardcarp]

I'd feel a bit miffed as a parent if my child's entry to a good school depended on a lottery.
However I take your point about privilege....i.e. entry depending on IQ, parents' pockets or even religious denomination.