2025 PROGRAMME 2025 PROGRAMME
WELCOME
Welcome to Qatar School Choir of the Year 2025! As Director of Music at Doha College, it is my pleasure to produce the Qatar School Choir of the Year Competition. As we celebrate the seventh year of the competition, our mission is simply Uniting Children Through Singing. As a music community, we firmly believe in the power of music, collaboration and developing the quality of singing and confidence in our young musicians.
Over the course of this three-day event, students have taken part in a variety of vocal workshops with our esteemed adjudicator and choral expert, Alison McNeill. We are truly grateful for her expertise and invaluable guidance to all students in this year’s competition. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to Olga Protopopova and Sonja Park for their support and adjudication. It is a pleasure to collaborate with fellow music centres across Qatar and share in this enriching experience.
A heartfelt thank you also goes to all the students, music departments, schools, support teams, and parents for their dedication and preparation for this event.
For now, we invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the wonderful music prepared for you by our talented students and their music teachers!
“ Motto: Uniting children through singing
WILLIAM MORROW QSCoY Director
Introduction to QSCOY
Originally called Qatar Primary School Choir of the Year, the competition was brought to life in 2017 by a team of music teachers, parent volunteers, and choir enthusiasts from Doha College, to add new breadth to music education in Qatar.
The competition anthem “Wings of the Falcon”—a rousing song that was the set piece of the inaugural QSCoY edition—was composed by Dana Al Fardan, a Qatari composer of international prominence, an alumna of Doha College, and a champion of music education.
Following the rise of QSCoY, Qatar has seen choirs emerging or doubling in size, grander performances in local events, and widened participation in the competition itself, year on year. Owing to the continued success of the QSCoY model, we are excited to have expanded the competition and welcome choirs from secondary schools as well.
“QSCOY Mission
To enable children to experience and enjoy each other’s musical heritage, to give them a platform that encourages a touch of competitive spirit, with the desire to perform and excel, and to contribute to Qatar’s Vision 2030 by enriching education in performing arts.
2025 Uniting children through singing
FINAL - 25TH FEBRUARY 4PM
Ages 5 - 8
School Oryx International School
Choir Primary Junior Choir
Conductor Cathryn Navarro
Accompanist Victoria Salazar
Free Choice Song The Jazzy Muffin Man
School Doha College
Choir DC Primary Junior Choir
Conductor Hannah McHugh
Accompanist Ryan Sullivan
Free Choice Song Be Cool - Bob Chilcott
Uniting children through singing
FINAL - 25TH FEBRUARY 4PM
Ages 7-11
School American School Doha
Choir
Elementary Choir
Conductor Brita Fray
Accompanist Lisa Cheung
Free Choice Song Storm - James DesJardins
School Doha English Speaking School
Choir DESS Voice Squad
Conductor Andrew Woodhouse
Accompanist Jessica Kuek
Free Choice Song Abba Gold - Jack Zaino
School Doha College
Choir
DC Primary Senior Choir
Conductor Paulo Vicente
Accompanist Ryan Sullivan
Free Choice Song One Candle - Andy Beck
School Oryx International School
Choir
Primary Senior Choir
Conductor Cathryn Navarro
Accompanist Victoria Salazar
Free Choice Song Lightning!
2025
Uniting children through singing
FINAL - 25TH FEBRUARY 4PM
Ages 11- 18
School Park House English School
Choir
Secondary Choir
Conductor Gabriela Nunez
Accompanist Zhang (Quinn) Yue
Free Choice Song Time - Jennifer Lucy Cook
School King’s College
Choir
Senior Concert Choir
Conductor Mark Young
Accompanist Vladimir Minev
Free Choice Song Super-Trouper by B. Andersson, S. Anderson & B. Ulvaeus
ADJUDICATORS
Scottish soprano, conductor, and fiddle player Alison McNeill holds a Master’s in Performance from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and furthered her studies in Spain with the late, legendary mezzo-soprano Teresa Berganza.
ALISON MCNEILL
With a dynamic and varied career, Alison has performed as a soloist across the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Japan, Pakistan, Kenya, the USA, and Mexico. Career highlights include performing as a soloist with Ditirambo Early Music Ensemble in Mexico, Carmina Burana and Verdi’s Requiem with the RSNO at the Royal Concert Hall, and winning the Andrés Segovia Prize for Spanish Song—becoming the first non-native speaker to do so. She has also headlined international festivals with folk-rock band Reely Jiggered and has been featured on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio 4, as well as national television in Pakistan and Mexico.
Described by The Herald as having “a succinct conducting style, commanding undivided attention,” Alison has conducted numerous choirs, including the National Youth Choir of Northern Ireland’s Junior and Boys’ Choirs, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Youth Choruses, the National Youth Choir of Scotland’s National Boys Choir, and Coats Choral, who will perform Poulenc’s Gloria and Fauré’s Requiem with the Glasgow Chamber Orchestra in Paisley Abbey this March. She also leads Voices of Argyll, known for innovative, multi-artform projects, most recently premiering Interwoven - a work for sitar, tabla, piano, choir, and Indian dance - at the Scottish Parliament. www.alisonmcneill.com
OLGA PROTOPOPOVA
Olga has been Principal of the International Music Centre in Doha since 2006, dedicated to building on the vision and success of its founder. She graduated with distinction from the prestigious Tchaikovsky National Academy of Music (Kiev Conservatory), where she later worked as a professional accompanist alongside renowned vocal tutors.
With extensive experience in the Middle East, Olga spent four years in Jordan, earning the trust and recognition of students, parents, and even members of the ruling family whilst teaching and organising classical concerts.
In Doha, she remains a dedicated mentor, combining passion and a commitment to excellence to inspire the next generation of musicians.
SONJA PARK
Sonja Park is a highly accomplished pianist and chamber musician, having studied Piano Performance and Piano Chamber Music at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.
A multiple prize-winner and finalist in international competitions, Sonja has performed as a soloist and chamber musician with distinguished artists like Dora Schwarzberg, Maxim Rysanov, and Lorin Maazel, in renowned venues such as La Scala Milano, Musikverein Wien, and Wigmore Hall London. She has collaborated with esteemed orchestras, including the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. Sonja has adjudicated numerous music competitions, including the Gulf Chopin Competition, the Abu Dhabi Young Musician Competition, and the Brahms Competition in Austria. She has made appearances on ORF, MEZZO, ABC Australia, Rai, NHK, Magyar TV, Al Jazeera, and Qatar TV/Radio.
As the founding faculty member of the Qatar Music Academy and Principal Chair of Keyboard in the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, Sonja is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of musicians. She is also the founder of Moving Young Artists, Qatar National Music Competition and the International Chamber Music Concert Series for Peace and Unity. In recognition of her exceptional artistry, she is honoured as the first Steinway Artist in the Middle East.
EYFS
3-4 years old
At Doha College, we place great importance on our EYFS programme, designed to inspire exploration, discovery, and skill development through play. This engaging approach fosters a love for learning while building a strong foundation that seamlessly supports our youngest learners as they progress to the Primary school.
PRIMARY 5-10 years old
We believe in an inclusive approach to education that engages and inspires a happy and positive mindset in children's approach to learning and indeed life.
SECONDARY 11-15 years old
At Doha College, secondary pupils thrive as we nurture individual potential, foster personal growth, and achieve outstanding academic results. Beyond the classroom, diverse co-curricular activities ensure a balanced and well-rounded experience.
6th FORM 16-17 years old
As a British 6th Form in Doha, our emphasis is on helping each student develop their full potential academically and become a well-rounded individual, equipped to go out into the world and achieve their dreams.
