Since it moved north of the river to Hammersmith four years ago, our annual Carol Concert has established itself as a December school outing that is as popular with Harrodian pupils as it is with parents. The soaring spaces of St Paul's Hammersmith once again accommodated the massed ranks of parents, pupils and staff, all of whom enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate Christmas through speech and song. Traditional carols, accompanied on the organ by Dr Parmley, were interspersed with readings, sacred and secular, delivered by staff and pupils.
Our Chamber Choir opened the concert with a powerful rendition of ‘Carol of the Bells’ as they made their way down the aisle through the audience to the stage. Each of the many choirs then had a chance to shine, including two new groups which made their debut this year: the Harmodians, a group of male staff, sang an unusual barbershop version of ‘White Christmas’ arranged by Dan Miller (see below) while the Upper Sixth Trio, Maria Hayaux du Tilly, Honey Wyatt and Nina Parmenter, performed ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’. This year's Carol Concert also marked the first occasion on which a member of staff was brave enough to compose and conduct his own piece. Peripatetic singing teacher, Dan Miller, composed the carol, ‘Through Falling Snow’, specially for the Staff Choir and was rewarded with an outstanding performance by the teachers.
