The choral scholars, under the supervision of Rupert Gough, were joined in this concert by the university Chorus and four soloists who included Royal Holloway alumni soloists Soprano Sarah Fox and Mezzo Felicity Turner, as well as current choral scholar, Christopher Willoughby. The orchestra, made up of Royal Holloway students playing alongside the London Mozart Players, were directed by Rebecca Miller.

For 2020, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony was chosen, to mark the anniversary year. Its uplifting theme of unity reflects Royal Holloway’s strong sense of community. Complementing this was Cecilia McDowall’s Ave Maris Stella. It takes as its central theme words from Woodrow Wilson “the freedom of the seas is the sine qua non of peace, equality and co-operation”. Taking inspiration from Beethoven’s work and legacy, a new commission from prize-winning Swedish composer Andrea Tarrodi opened the concert.

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