BIOGRAPHY- THE ORATORY CHOIRS

The , also known as the Brompton Oratory, has three distinct and reputable choirs, all of which are signed to recording label AimHigher Recordings which is distributed worldwide by Sony Classical.

THE LONDON ORATORY SCHOLA CANTORUM BOYS CHOIR was founded in 1996. Educated in the Junior House of the , boys from the age of 7 are given outstanding choral and instrumental training within a stimulating musical environment. Directed by Charles Cole, the prestigious ‘Schola’ is regarded as one of London’s leading boy-choirs, in demand for concert and soundtrack work. The London Oratory Schola Cantorum Boys Choir will be the first choir to release an album under a new international recording partnership with AimHigher Recordings/Sony Classical. The debut album of the major label arrangement, due out February 10, 2017, will be entitled Sacred Treasures of England.

THE CHOIR OF THE LONDON ORATORY is the UK’s senior professional choir and sings for all the major liturgies at the Oratory. Comprising some of London’s leading ensemble singers, the choir is internationally renowned. The choir is regularly featured on live broadcasts of Choral Vespers on BBC Radio 3 and its working repertoire covers all aspects and periods of music for the Latin Rite from Gregorian chant to the present day with special emphasis on 16th and 17th century polyphony and the Viennese classical repertory of the late 18th and 19th centuries. The Choir is directed by Patrick Russill, who serves as The London Oratory’s Director of Music and is also Head of Choral Conducting at London's Royal Academy of Music.

THE LONDON ORATORY JUNIOR CHOIR consists of boys and girls aged between 8 and 16 drawn from all over London. They rehearse after school hours and play an important part in the Oratory’s liturgies. The choir has appeared in award-winning recordings and frequently sings for the Royal Ballet’s productions at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The Junior Choir is directed by Charles Cole.

The London Oratory Schola Cantorum Boys Choir- Extended Biography

‘The Schola’

The London Oratory Schola Cantorum Boys Choir sings at the London Oratory every Saturday evening in term time and on major feast days for School Mass throughout the year. Founded in 1996, the choir provides the opportunity of a traditional boys choral education, from age 7 to 18. As well as its liturgical role, the Schola has recorded numerous soundtracks, including the Lord of the Rings, as well as being featured on several recordings and programmes for television and radio. The choir has also toured widely abroad, performing throughout the USA and Europe. In 2013 the Schola sang at High Mass in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and was the first visiting choir in history to sing at Vespers there. In 2015 the Schola toured Spain, singing a programme of Spanish renaissance polyphony at the Cathedrals of Madrid, Segovia and Toledo as well as the Monastery of San Lorenzo el Real in El Escorial. The tour received extensive coverage on Spanish TV and Radio. Earlier this year the Schola sang at a choral festival in Bavaria with the Tölzer Knabenchor before travelling to Venice to sing Mass at St Mark’s and a concert at the Church of San Salvador. The Schola is scheduled to tour Spain in February of 2017 as well as the USA in October 2017. The Trebles have also sung for a number of the Royal Ballet’s productions at the Royal Opera House including The Dream, Connectomeand Nutcracker. Since 2012 the Schola has been directed by Charles Cole who began his musical training as a chorister at . He went on to win major music scholarships to Ampleforth College, Exeter College, Oxford and Westminster Cathedral. He is Assistant Director of Music at the London Oratory where he also directs the London Oratory Junior Choir. The London Oratory Schola Cantorum Boys Choir will be the first choir to release an album under a new international recording partnership with AimHigher Recordings/Sony Classical. The debut album of the major label arrangement, due out February 10, 2017, will be entitled Sacred Treasures of England.