Tonbridge and Benenden Chapel Choirs combine for Requiem Mass

The Tonbridge and Benenden Chapel Choirs united for a moving performance of Fauré’s Requiem as part of a special Remembrance Service on Sunday 12 November.

With accompaniment from an ensemble comprised of students and staff from both schools, the two choirs gave a striking performance, delighting an audience that included parents and guests.

Performing in Benenden’s Centenary Hall, the singers and instrumentalists provided the perfect showcase for their combined talents. The performance was part of a special Remembrance Service, which included a Requiem Mass and reflections about those whose lives have been taken or affected by the brutality of war.

Earlier in the day, Remembrance Sunday services took place at both schools, while each marked Armistice Day on Saturday with a Two Minutes’ Silence.

The CCF Guard of Honour played an active role in Tonbridge’s Act of Commemoration, which also included a fine student performance of the Last Post and Reveille.

Julian Thomas, Tonbridge’s Choirmaster, said: “It was wonderful to be able to join with the Benenden girls to sing Fauré’s choral masterpiece on Remembrance Sunday. The opportunity for both soloists and choirs to sing with orchestral accompaniment was also an important experience, and one that they will definitely remember.”