Hampton School’s choristers from First Year to Upper Sixth travelled to Northern Italy over the summer holidays to perform in a series of concerts in the 2023 choir trip.
Based in the beautiful Tuscan town of Montecatini Terme, the 90-strong choir performed in a number of magnificent settings, including the Battistero di San Giovanni in Florence and San Paolini Church in the heart of Lucca. The congregation at the performances included a large number of Hampton parents who had made the long journey to support the choristers. The choir performed a mixed repertoire including music by Renaissance composers, Civitas Sancti Tui by William Byrd and O Bone Jesu by Palestrina. A central piece of the programme was Jazz Missa Brevis by contemporary composer Will Todd, with the choir ably accompanied by Sixth Former Tomás Escobar on the saxophone. There was also an uplifting performance from Voices of Lions of My Lord What a Mornin’.
The Hamptonians had plenty of opportunities to explore the region of Tuscany, including the spectacular city of Florence, taking in Brunelleschi’s Dome and the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge. They also ventured to Pisa, where the boys marvelled at the famous Leaning Tower. A highlight of the trip was the visit to Acqua Village Cecina Waterpark where the pupils made the most of the adrenalin-fuelled water slides.
Organiser of the trip and conductor of the School Choir, Mrs Lizzie Esser, was delighted with how the choristers embraced the opportunity to perform in such wonderful surroundings:
Every pupil involved in the trip should be enormously proud of what they achieved. The quality of music-making in all three of our concerts was extremely high, even in blistering heat! Both pupils and staff alike have come away with some lasting and very special musical memories.
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