By Mrs Jones (Music Teacher)
On Tuesday evening, BGS was alive with harmony, passion and purpose as it hosted VoiceFest 2025, a vibrant celebration of vocal and choral music. The event brought together voices of all ages and levels of experience, showcasing the joy and power of communal singing.
The school was especially honoured to welcome acclaimed composer Cecilia McDowall as the guest of the day. Known for her evocative and socially conscious compositions, McDowall's presence added a distinctive sense of occasion and inspiration to the festival.
The afternoon rehearsal saw the coming together of four choirs: Bel Canto (BGS’s award-winning senior choir), Baby Bels (BGS’s Junior auditioned choir) and the North Bedfordshire Youth Choir, who were joined by the Consort Choir, the joint choirs from Bedford School and BGS, forming a large-scale ensemble for a moving performance of McDowall’s The Girl from Aleppo. This powerful work, which tells the real-life story of Nujeen Mustafa, a young Syrian refugee with cerebral palsy, resonated deeply with performers and audience alike. With violin soloist Harry L’Estrange adding a haunting layer of poignancy, the piece highlighted the capacity of choral music to tell urgent, human stories with emotional depth.
Mr Page (Director of Music) reflected: “It was an astonishingly moving performance and incredible to think that it was the first time that the four choirs had come together. Having Cecilia McDowall there to talk about the piece and how she came to compose it really brought it to life for the performers and the audience!”
The first half of the evening featured two selections from each participating choir, offering an impressive range of styles and historical periods. From intricate Renaissance madrigals to the high energy of musical theatre, the programme showcased the versatility and expressive potential of choral music. Standout solo performances by Rosie Freear, singing If thou wilt ease thine heart by Britten and Polly Taylor, performing Silent Noon by Vaughan Williams, brought moments of individual brilliance.
For students, staff and audience members alike, it was a day to remember and a proud celebration of choral excellence at BGS.
