Archive news 2007 The latest in depth articles and information about the choir is published three times a year in Schola News, the newsletter of the Friends of the Schola. Click here to subscribe.
A Concert for World Aids Day - UPDATE 01.11.2007 A change to the benefiting charities Please click here for a press release for the concert on 1st December 2007. Buy tickets online by clicking here.
Schola choristers voices of 'The Golden Compass' 11.09.2007
The London Oratory School Schola boys have recorded music to the next big budget blockbuster due out in December 2007, 'The Golden Compass' starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. Their haunting voices will feature as part of film composer Alexandré Desplat's score to this New Line Cinema film - based on Philip Pullman's book 'Northern Lights'. The film will be released on 7th December and the soundtrack will be available to purchase through the Schola website by clicking here. Details about the film, including a trailer are available from the official website at www.goldencompassmovie.com.
A Concert for World Aids Day 01.09.2007 On 1st December, World Aids Day, 'The London Oratory School Schola' and a host of star soloists will perform two compelling settings of the Requiem. Gareth Valentine's tuneful and evocative Requiem and that of Durufle are set alongside the first performance of a new commission by Colin Mawby, 'A song of hope'. The concert at Cadogan Hall in London, attended by a host of VIPS will be raising money for two nominated charities. All proceeds will go to London based charity Terrence Higgins Trust and SOS Children's Villages for children orphaned through AIDS. Buy tickets online by clicking here.
Schola's Live Earth concert in world media 08.07.2007
	The Schola took part in a successful concert in aid of the golbal 'Live Earth' initiative lead by Al Gore. The concert at the Cathedral of St John in Rome was broadcast around the world, with highlights of the event appearing on television stations in the USA, New Zealand, Australia, Italy and on BBC1 in the UK. In addition Lee Ward was interviewed by Aled Jones for BBC Radio 3's programme 'The Choir' on Sunday 1st July 2007. Further articles about the Schola's involvement in Live Earth have appeared in 'The Tablet' and 'Catholic Herald' in the UK.
Vatican Radio interview Lee Ward and the choristers 24.05.2007
The English speaking version of Vatican Radio recorded an interview with Schola's director Lee Ward and three of the choristers whilst the choir were on their annual concert tour to Rome in April 2007. The interview was aired on the radio on Thursday 24th May 2007 and can be heard by clicking here (you will need Real Player to listen) or going to the Vatican Radio website here.
Schola to take part in Live Earth event in Rome on the 7th July 2007 23.05.2007 The Schola has been invited to take part in the Vatican's contribution to 'Live Earth', an worldwide music event to raise awarness of the dangers of global warming, on the 7th July 2007. The event will take place at the Cathedral in Rome, where the choir will take centre stage performing the Mass by composer Michael D'Alessandra. More details on the event will be published soon. Choir premières the work of D'Alessadra in Rome 08.05.2007 The choir premières a new Mass by Italian composer Michael D'Alessandra during a special service in Rome held on Saturday 12th May. The celebrant of the Mass, Cardinal Grocholewski, is the Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education and Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Gregorian University. The event marks the launch of an initiative to introduce sacred music teaching in the seminaries. Boys heard on BBC Four Edwardian drama 02.05.2007 The choristers recorded for a BBC Four drama in January 2007. The result is that their voices can be heard on BBC 4 television on Wednesday 2nd May 2007. The programme, Who Killed Mrs De Ropp?, is a one-off drama - part of the channel's Edwardian season - based on three typically funny and cruel stories by Saki. Concert tour to Rome 2007 12.04.2007 The Schola embarks on its annual concert tour. This year the destination is Rome where the choir are performing at the Chiesa Nuova (the Oratory in Rome), the American Catholic Church (S Susanna) and at the Basilica San Crisogono. A full write up of the tour will be available in the September issue of the Friends of the Schola newsletter. Concert launches the Schola Foundation charity 12.02.2007
The London Oratory School Schola Foundation charity was launched on Friday 9th February with a concert of music by Karl Jenkins and Josef Haydn. The concert was reviewed by the Sunday Express, receiving an impressive four stars. The Foundation aims to raise money to sustain the life of the Schola for the next generation, allowing it to educate choristers in the non fee-paying state education system and to propagate England's choral music tradition in the UK and around the world.