BYC Choir wins Robertshaw Festival!

For the 3rd Year running, the Primary Schools singing class of the Robertshaw Festival in Bingley, has been won by a BYC school! Under the direction of Ms. Fernly, St. Walburgas pipped runners-up St. Josephs, Bingley (last years winners) by one mark to take the Harry Haddock shield!

The adjudicator was very positive in her comments about both BYC schools complementing them on their tone and clear diction. She also noted how delighted she was to hear primary schools singing in Latin - 'such a beautiful language to sing in!'

St. Walburgas opened with an Ave Maria by Mervyn Cousins, former Director of Music at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and now Director of Music of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod , home of the famous 'Choir of the World' Competition. This was followed in a lighter vain with 'Chitty chitty bang bang! which drew rapturous applause from the audience.

St. Josephs also began with a Latin text, 'Jubilate Deo' in a setting by the Taize community. This contrasted with the song 'Hail, King of the Jews' in a sombre minor key in which the choir showed many different colours and dynamics.