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Saturday 10th December 2011
By Nick Hitchens

An inaugural choral foundation needs £1.5m to support one of only two Royal chapel choirs in the country.

Hampton Court Palace Chapel Royal launched the foundation to secure the future of the choir, while providing musical training to members, and to restore the 200-year-old organ.

The organisation was launched at a special evensong service on Sunday, December 4, to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible.

A host of guests attended the event, including the Bishop of London, the Dean of Her Majesty’s Chapels Royal and descendants of composers John Blow and Henry Purcell.

Jon Round, Chapel Royal Choral Foundation chairman, said: “Our initial target is £1.5m in pledges to the foundation. After more than 50 pledges ranging from a few hundred pounds, to two of more than £100,000, we are well over a third of the way to that target.

“Despite still being some way from our target the trustees are sufficiently confident of our progress that we have recommended the chapel move ahead to sign a contract with Harrison and Harrison to refurbish the organ.

“This is planned for April 2013, and my particular thanks to the Historic Royal Palaces for significantly making this happen.”

The foundation plans to provide music lessons to all its choristers, establish scholarships for boys otherwise unable to enter the choir and help pay for professional gentlemen singers.

Dr Chartres said: “The choir of the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace, has been enriching the cultural and spiritual life of England for nearly 500 years.

“Looking back on the centuries of fine music emanating from the Chapel Royal, we recognise the choir’s enormous contribution to the heritage of English music.

“The value of the choir is unquestionable, we acknowledge the music of the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace as a national treasure and we celebrate its place among the best of British.”

“Pledges are music to the ears of Chapel Royal fundraisers”

12:00pm Saturday 10th December 2011
By Nick Hitchens

An inaugural choral foundation needs £1.5m to support one of only two Royal chapel choirs in the country.

Hampton Court Palace Chapel Royal launched the foundation to secure the future of the choir, while providing musical training to members, and to restore the 200-year-old organ. The organisation was launched at a special evensong service on Sunday, December 4, to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible.

A host of guests attended the event, including the Bishop of London, the Dean of Her Majesty’s Chapels Royal and descendants of composers John Blow and Henry Purcell.

Jon Round, Chapel Royal Choral Foundation chairman, said: “Our initial target is £1.5m in pledges to the foundation. After more than 50 pledges ranging from a few hundred pounds, to two of more than £100,000, we are well over a third of the way to that target.

“Despite still being some way from our target the trustees are sufficiently confident of our progress that we have recommended the chapel move ahead to sign a contract with Harrison and Harrison to refurbish the organ.

“This is planned for April 2013, and my particular thanks to the Historic Royal Palaces for significantly making this happen.”

The foundation plans to provide music lessons to all its choristers, establish scholarships for boys otherwise unable to enter the choir and help pay for professional gentlemen singers.

Dr Chartres said: “The choir of the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace, has been enriching the cultural and spiritual life of England for nearly 500 years.

“Looking back on the centuries of fine music emanating from the Chapel Royal, we recognise the choir’s enormous contribution to the heritage of English music.

“The value of the choir is unquestionable, we acknowledge the music of the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace as a national treasure and we celebrate its place among the best of British.”