A busy start to 2019 for the Ellesmere College Choir - including the chance to be led by legendary choral conductor, Edward Higginbottom.

Their short but unforgettable tour has seen them perform at Queen’s College, Oxford; Farm Street Church, Mayfair; and the prestigious St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Each performance required a different programme - in Oxford they sang at evensong alongside the Queen's College choir, while at St George's there programme was principally of a capella sacred vocal music and carried elements of their 2018 tour in Italy.

For Farm Street Church the programme consisted of contemporary and classic sacred vocal repertoire as well as Mr Blue Sky as an encore.

Director of Music at Ellesmere College, Tony Coupe, said: "Shortly before the trip I received a note from Professor Owen Rees explaining that he was currently on sabbatical, therefore the evensong in Oxford would be conducted by the legendary choral conductor, Edward Higginbottom.

"Our preparations for this service involved familiarising the Chapel Choir with a range of different conducting styles, ensuring they would be resilient in the face of frank feedback and understand the demands of working in a professional context.

"For this service I sang with the basses deferring to Edward Higginbottom as our maestro for the day. His approach was methodical with a real attention to details.

"He remarked that as a choir we had in every way risen to the standard of Queen’s College meaning that he could proceed without diverting from their normal approach. This was a huge compliment from the man who had directed music at New College, Oxford to the very highest standard for over 35 years."

Additional performances included flash mobs at the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, The Raphael Room at the Victoria and Albert in London, and Covent Garden.