Future Performances

Watch this space!

Previous Performances

July 2011 - Some brave members of the choir turned up in spite of some extremely wet weather to sing to an equally brave audience at the Ampleforth Gala in aid of the Ampleforth Playing Fields.

March 2011 - Our musical was Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Unlike previous years, when we have rehearsed and performed in a morning, this year's musical, staged in Ampleforth College Theatre, was a polished performance and a joint venture with Helmsley Community Primary School. The Narrator was Rosie McCann, a current sixth form student at Ampleforth College, and Joseph was played by Joey Dexter, who used to be at St Martin's Ampleforth and is now studying singing at the Royal Northern College of Music.

December 2010 - After rather an inauspicious start (two rehearsals cancelled because of snow, a power cut and a change of venue), the choir sang a traditional service of Nine Lessons and Carols at Helmsley Methodist Church. The lessons were all read by members of the choir, there were some choir-only carols, and many in which the congregation joined in enthusiastically. Although we were all looking forward to Christmas, this was a sad occasion as we said goodbye to Karen, who has been a rehearsal leader with the choir since its foundation.

June 2010 - Three hugely successful performances of Brundibár, a children's opera by Jewish Czech composer Hans Krása, with a libretto by Adolf Hoffmeister, originally performed by the children of Theresienstadt concentration camp in occupied Czechoslovakia. For these performances the Children's Choir were joined by more than 250 primary school children from around North Yorkshire, and accompanied by a professional orchestra. The opera is based on a folk story about two children who outwit a street musician (Brundibar) in order to raise money for their ailing mother.

October 2010 - The choir dressed up as legendary figures from medieval times to sing at Helmsley Castle's Medieval event during October half term. They sang music about Robin Hood, King Arthur and Lady Godiva, as well as some traditional medieval songs.

March 2010 - our Musical in a Morning taster day worked towards a performance of First Kids in Space. The choir took the main parts including the Flight Director, crew, Mission Control and various Androids, while children who came to join in just on the morning took the part of the backing chorus.

December 2009 - The choir sang some Christmas music in the beautiful chapel at Castle Howard, during their "Family Home at Christmas" event. Our two lunchtime concerts drew in great crowds, and were much appreciated by all the visitors.

October 2009 - The choir were invited to sing as part of the Railway at War Weekend run by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. The clocks were turned back to 1943 and the children dressed up accordingly, singing a selection of wartime songs to passengers waiting at Platform 1 on Pickering Station.

July 2009 - An end-of-year concert and barbeque at The Windmill, Ampleforth College

June 2009 - The choir gave a concert of the repertoire they have learned during the year at Kirkbymoorside Memorial Hall, in the presence of the Mayor of Kirkbymoorside and representatives from the North Yorkshire Music Service.

March 2009 - The choir sang folk music from around the world, including songs from the British Isles, continental Europe, Australia, the USA and Canada. This was followed by Ampleforth Ceilidh Band leading some lively dancing, with enthusiastic participation from the children and some parents as well!

February 2009 - Nearly 90 children participated in our performance of The Sound of Music in February, to which we invited non-members of the choir to join us for the morning. Various children had the opportunity to play the parts of nuns, the children and the Captain.

November/December 2008 - Our two Autumn Term concerts were both held at Ampleforth College. At the end of November the children performed a selection of songs from Film and TV in the Old Gym. Highlights included "The Flintstones", the theme tune from "Friends" and a "Tiny Toons Overture". In December we sang carols and other Christmas songs around the Christmas tree in the Main Hall, followed by mulled wine and mince pies. A book sale, toy sale and Christmas cake raffle raised money for Botton Village where we had sung in the summer.

June 2008 - Botton Village was host to our summer concert. Botton Village is a community created to offer opportunities to adults with learning disabilities and other special needs. The whole community made us feel very welcome and it was a privilege to sing in their fantastic concert hall. It was a beautiful day so we were able to enjoy the surroundings with a picnic afterwards.

May 2008 - Ampleforth played host to 60 members of the Friends of Cathedral Music as part of their annual gathering. The group raises money to support the continuation of the provision of Church music nationwide. The Children's Choir gave the very first performance of the day, and were received with great enthusiasm by those who attended, some of whom had travelled from as far afield as Surrey and Oxford. The Friends were very impressed by the standard of performance and the level of commitment of all the children involved. It was an extra special occasion for us all, as it is the first time that those in Reception and Year 1 have sung with the rest of the children in a concert. We look forward to many more occasions!

March 2008 - Our "concert" was an informal gathering for friends and family over at St Martin's Ampleforth, where each group presented a few of the songs they had been learning. It was the debut performance of our youngest group, who sang The Big Ship Sails on the Ally Ally O.

December 2007 - held in Ampleforth Abbey Church, this concert featured a range of Advent, Christmas and New Year music from around the world.

November 2007 - The choir joined other local primary school children who had been involved in Ampleforth's choral outreach project to put on a performance of the musical Oliver!  Around 80 children took part. The singing morning began with some warm-ups and singing games, then the children were split into groups to learn the songs. After a well-deserved break, parents and friends arrived to watch the performance. The story was narrated by Jack Murphy, an English teacher at Ampleforth College, who took on the various roles of Oliver, the Artful Dodger and Fagin as he was telling the story.