AT a recent concert, the Schola of Ampleforth College were joined by the Ampleforth & Ryedale Concert Choir.

A full chamber orchestra led by Nicola Rainger, and professional soloists Louise Wayman (soprano), Tom Lilburn (counter tenor), Ben Thapa (tenor) and James Cleverton (bass) for a performance of Handel’s Messiah in Ampleforth Abbey. Under conductor, Edward Seymour (director of music at Ampleforth College), a packed church enjoyed this musical highpoint of Advent.

The Ampleforth Schola, one of the leading school choirs in the country, greatly enjoyed performing with top-quality professionals. Louise Wayman studied at Birmingham Conservatoire, graduating first in her year and winning prizes for English Song, Oratorio, Opera, Lieder, Recitals and Academic Achievement.

She has worked with the BBC Singers, the Gabrieli Consort, Ex Cathedra and Collegium Vocale Gent. Tom Lilburn, who graduated with a distinction from the Master of Performance course at the Royal College of Music, is a member of the vocal sextet The Queen’s Six, has worked with esteemed consorts including Tenebrae, The Sixteen, The Binchois Consort and ORA, and sung at the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh, the Committal of Queen Elizabeth II, and the weddings of Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie.

Ben Thapa started his career as one quarter of the classical opera group G4, runners-up on ITV’s The X Factor in 2004. Leaving the group in 2018, he has since forged a varied career on the stage across a range of repertory. In the 2022-23 season, James Cleverton appeared as Johann in Werther at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Marco in Gianni Schicchi for Scottish Opera, Baron Douphol in La Traviata for Opera North and as Daedalus in the world premiere of Raising Icarus by Michael Zev Gordon.

Before the performance, head Peter Roberts, hosted a reception for a number of local councillors and representatives from the Ryedale Festival and the Yorkshire Music Future Fund.

Director of music, Edward Seymour, said: “It is always a thrilling experience performing Messiah. No more so than in the magnificent Ampleforth Abbey.

"For me it was a real ‘Rolls Royce’ experience working with such outstanding soloists, superb orchestra and fantastic choir; the highlight of the term. I’m lucky to work with the Schola Cantorum every week of the year as they prepare music for their twice-weekly public services in the Abbey.”