Tring Park School is Choir of the Year

Living Magazines Tring Park School Choir

The prestigious Tring Park School for the Performing Arts have won the much-coveted BBC Songs of Praise Senior School Choir of the Year 2019 competition for the second time in four years.

The final, which was aired on Sunday 2 June on BBC1, saw the Tring Park School Chamber Choir, also known as the Tring Park 16, compete in the senior category against NChant – Kent and Francis Holland School Senior Chamber Choir, London.

The choir impressed the judging panel with their performance of ‘Steal Away’. The judges included: vocal coach and TV presenter Carrie Grant; JB Gill from the acclaimed boyband JLS; and the tenor Russell Watson.

The competition final was presented by Aled Jones at The Victoria Hall, Bolton.

The 2019 Tring Park 16 follow in the footsteps of the 2016 Tring Park 16, who also won the illustrious BBC Songs of Praise Senior School Choir of the Year competition, with their rendition of Daniel, Daniel Servant Of The Lord.
The 2019 choir consists of 16 fifth and sixth formers from Tring Park who are pupils from the acting, dance, musical theatre, commercial music and performance foundation courses, which makes the choir a unique feature of the school, being the only regular vehicle for cross-course performing.

Talking about the Tring Park 16’s success Songs of Praise series producer Matthew Napier said: ‘Tring Park delivered the quality of sound, the vocal technique and the all-important wow factor. They are deserved winners – again!’

Reflecting on the choir’s achievements, Tring Park director of music Liz Norriss said: ‘Having won Songs of Praise Senior School Choir of the Year back in 2016, I was thrilled that the choir were able to represent the school again by winning a place in this year’s semi-final. It was a brilliant experience for the choristers, but we all definitely felt the additional pressure of maintaining the school’s record.

‘The choristers are incredibly committed and passionate about their singing, and were determined to do their very best. I couldn’t have asked more from them and I feel honoured and proud to work with such amazing young people.’

The 2019 Tring Park 16 includes: Caitlyn Allen (Musical Theatre Course); Florrie Antoniou (Acting Course); Stephanie Costi (Musical Theatre Course); Ben Culleton (Musical Theatre Course); Antonia Dwyer (Commercial Music Course); Jacob Edwards (Musical Theatre Course), Tomi Fry (Performance Foundation Course); Gregory McCrorie-Shand (Performance Foundation Course); Robin Nixon (Musical Theatre Course); Jessica Pritchard (Musical Theatre Course); Joshua Shea (Musical Theatre Course); Lydia Singer (Commercial Music Course); Edith Smith (Musical Theatre Course); Katrina Stenning (Musical Theatre Course); Jack Stewart (Commercial Music Course); and James Tatman (Commercial Music Course).

Tring Park School has a glittering alumni for the students to be inspired by. These include: Daisy Ridley (Star Wars: The Force Awakens); Lily James (Mamma Mia Here We Go Again, Disney’s Cinderella, Downton Abbey and War and Peace); Jessica Brown-Findlay (Downton Abbey); and Olivier Award-winning director and choreographer Drew McOnie.

Tring Park School is both a day and boarding school for students aged 8 to 19. Alongside a broad academic curriculum, the school offers courses in dance, acting and musical theatre to learners up to the age of 16. Sixth Form students are able to study Acting, Musical Theatre and Commercial Music up to age 18 while dancers can take a three-year course, graduating at age 19.