| Main Performers | John Batting (Chairman of Harrow Governors),
James Blunt,
Alastair Land (Head Master),
Timothy Bentinck MBE - speakers |
| Orchestra or Band | Concert Band,
Harrow School Orchestra |
| Set List | 19:00
'Prelude in C (BMW 545)', Bach (organist),
'Sonata No.2 (iii), Mendelssohn (organist),
'El Capitan', J P Sousa (Symphonic Winds),
'St Thomas', S Rollins (Symphonic Winds),
'Musket, Fife and Drum', J Parker (Symphonic Winds),
'Prince of Denmark's March', J Clark (organist),
'Trumpet Voluntary', H Purcell (organist),
19:30
'Pomp and Circumstance No.5', E Elgar (Symphony Orchestra),
Welcome (John Batting),
Master of Ceremonies (James Blunt),
Songs,
Wet-Day Afternoon Reading,
Songs,
Speech (Alastair Land),
Guest of Honour (Timothy Bentinck),
Songs,
'Auld Lang Syne',
'God Save the King' (The National Anthem) |
| Performance Notes | Harrow Schools Churchill Songs returns to the Hall for the seventh time, this edition celebrating the 450th anniversary of Harrow School. On six previous occasions, Harrow School has filled the Royal Albert Hall to sing our distinctive songs and commemorate the life of our greatest alumnus. The School, Old Harrovians, families and friends will come together for what promises to be another memorable occasion.
Every five years, the annual Harrow Churchill Songs takes place at the Royal Albert Hall, commemorating the life of old Harrovian Winston Churchill. This year, 5,000 immaculately dressed Harrovians, parents and Old Harrovians filled the venue and everyone sung their hearts out to some of the schools songs.
In 1940, at a point during the Second World War that was unpromising, Sir Jock Colville (The Head Master's 1928), Sir Winston Churchill (The Head Master's 1888)'s Private Secretary, overheard his Prime Minister singing Harrow song .St. Joles' in the bath,. Thinking he would be cheered by returning to their old School to sing Harrow Songs, Colville contacted the Head Master and arranged for Churchill to return to the Hill on 18 December 1940. The event was repeated every year for much of the rest of his life. There began the tradition of Churchill Songs.
Dress code: black tie only. |
| Related Archival Material | Programme (RAHE/1/2022/117),
Autograph (RAHE/8/1/15) |
| Ticket Prices | £45 gallery, £50-£85 circle, £110-£125 stalls and arena, £1,250-£2,000 second tier box, £2,250 loggia box, £4,500 grand tier box |