‘Sing Joyfully’ which celebrates the 150th year of the current site at Ardingly College, is a disc of choral music inspired by contemporary composers. Released by Stone Records, with whom the college produced a Christmas disc in 2018, ‘My Lord has Come’, this disc explores the music of Sir James MacMillan, Will Todd, Morten Lauridsen, Ola Gjeilo and David Bednall. Throughout the course of the disc, there are numerous references to seminal moments in both the liturgical and school calendars with Advent Antiphons and Carols, emotive works for Remembrance, settings of texts appropriate for the Eucharist, Lenten Anthems and secular works which the choir enjoys. The final piece, the title work of this disc, is a commission written for the choir celebrating this school anniversary by David Bednall, who also performed as organist throughout the whole recording.
This disc was due for release in 2020 however this project was delayed by the advent of Covid 19. However, with recording taking place in July 2021, this was a wonderfully fitting musical experience which for many was their first CD recording. I hope ‘Sing Joyfully’ serves as a suitable musical commemoration of the college’s founding but also of a group of extremely dedicated and talented young singers who will have this disc as a memento of their choral experience at the college. Certainly, on a personal level, this was a crowning achievement given the impact of the previous 18 months and one of great pride as the musical outcomes were mastered with fantastic vocal outcomes and expression for singers so young.
The ‘Sing Joyfully’ CD can now be purchased from https://vj9bdoqy0q.nimpr.uk/alumni/oa-shop/
