Methodist College Music Dept
26 September 2023 PRESS RELEASE
College Choristers at Methody
Methodist College has had a long tradition of exceptional choral music. Our college choirs have established a strong national and international reputation for excellence through their frequent radio and television broadcasts, and through their singing of major works and new commissions in venues such as Carnegie Hall and Westminster Abbey. In recent months our pupils made history as we provided seven girls to sing alongside the choirs of Westminster Abbey and His Majesty’s Chapel Royal at the Coronation of King Charles III, the first girls ever to do so at a Coronation.
Drawing inspiration from this extraordinary honour, and to further enrich and develop our choral programme, the College is pleased to announce that it has established a choir of boy and girl Choristers. Aged between 8 and 11, the Choristers are drawn from Methody’s prep departments, and rehearse at the school each weekday morning from 8.00am to 8.45am.
The Choristers are conducted by Mr Graeme McCullough. A native of Belfast, Graeme has held musical positions in England and the United States and has recently returned to Belfast with his family. Regarding his appointment as the new choir’s conductor, he says, “I couldn’t be more pleased to be conducting the Choristers at Methody. The school already has an enviable reputation for the excellence of its music, and it is immensely gratifying that, at a time when music and the arts are under great pressure, the College has underlined its commitment to music education by expanding and enhancing the singing opportunities given to our younger pupils.”
Ruth McCartney, the College’s Director of Music, said, “We are absolutely delighted to launch this new choir. Graeme is a highly experienced choral director and I know he will do a great job in getting the very best out of the singers. Rehearsals are very enjoyable, and they are already learning how to sing with a good technique and good choral discipline. I’m also very pleased that Mr Andrew Nethsingha, Director of Music at Westminster Abbey, has agreed to be the choir’s Patron. Our senior girls thoroughly enjoyed working under his baton at the Coronation, and he will be a great support as the choir develops. We hope that the Choristers will still sing in other choirs with whom we have had links over the last number of years, and we are confident that this choir will give them a good grounding in choral singing which will feed back into the community and as they progress to their next schools.”
Mrs Jenny Lendrum, the Principal said, “This is such an exciting time for the College as we build upon the musical excellence for which Methodist College is renowned. The launch of this new choir is a truly unique opportunity for our pupils which will undoubtedly see them flourish musically due to the unparalleled experiences that this choir will enjoy. I am indebted to Director of Music, Mrs Ruth McCartney and Conductor, Mr Graeme McCullough for realising their vision to connect the Preparatory Department with the Secondary Department through this unrivalled musical opportunity. As the choir prepares for performances this year, they will be inspired by Methody’s musical success over the past years and by the performance of the seven Methody girls at the King’s Coronation in May. It is our honour to develop further our relationship with Mr Andrew Nethsingha, Director of Music at Westminster Abbey who is our Patron. We look forward to working with him over the years and know that his expertise alongside that of the staff at the College will continue to secure excellence in music at Methodist College for many years to come.”
Further details from: Ruth McCartney Methodist College 1 Malone Road