CHARTER CHOIR OF HOMERTON COLLEGE Dr Daniel Trocmé-Latter, Director of Music
32 ANNUAL REVIEW COLLEGE LIFE
T
here are a number of striking College mottos in Cambridge, and Homerton’s Respice finem is probably one of the more memorable ones. Translated as ‘look to the end’, or ‘consider the end’, it is generally interpreted as a caution to consider actions and their consequences. The Charter Choir’s first commercial recording in 2014 parodied this motto in its title: Audite finem, enticing listeners to keep going until the very end (where we had intended to include a hidden track on the CD; unfortunately it never came to fruition). Fast-forwarding to the COVID pandemic, there have been times over the last two years when it has felt like the end of the road for the Charter Choir, which has built itself up to such a strong position over the last decade. However, now is not one of those moments, and it is great to be able to write a more positive report than that which appeared in last year’s Annual Review! Apart from a handful of fourth-years, none of our current singers has yet experienced a complete year of choral singing here at Homerton. The third-years were mere Freshers about to take their first-year exams when the pandemic hit; for our second-years, the year 2020–21 was a write-off in terms of choral and most other extra-curricular activities; and our new first-years have only just settled in after their first term of university life. This has meant that many of the musical skills that would normally be acquired through a nearconstant cycle of rehearsal and performance have been missed out on, and the social and health benefits of being in a choir went out of the window with them. However, we are well on the
road to recovery. What the choir lacks in terms of experience, it more than makes up for in terms of enthusiasm, drive, and desire to be involved. Following on from last Easter term when we sang in smaller groups, and a choir tour to the South West of England (singing in Portsmouth, Truro, and Wells Cathedrals), this Michaelmas term saw a return to a full choir – though still socially distanced – singing Evensong every Tuesday. Lord Woolley, recently sworn in as Principal, attended the very first Evensong of the academic year. The Choir was filmed singing two Christmas carols, and the carol service was a fitting culmination to the term (although we were sorry that the Principal was forced to abandon his plans to attend, having been called away to attend the ceremony in Barbados for the country’s transition to a republic!). This level of enthusiasm can actually be felt buzzing through Homerton’s music-making community at large. In fact, I would go so far as to say that we currently have one of the most passionate groups of musicians that I have seen during my time as Director of Music. The HCMS Michaelmas term concert was a resounding success, featuring ensembles that have not so much lain dormant during COVID but that had disappeared and since been re-founded. Frankie Richards (Choral Scholar and now also our first ever Conducting Scholar) led the Homerton Orchestra in one of its best performances in a decade. Regular in-person recitals have also returned, largely thanks to HCMS President Joe Solomon and the HCMS Committee. Among the groups that met for the first time in 18 months were the Homerton Singers, with Dr Douglas Coombes MBE at the helm. Jazz in the Buttery has also made a return after Formal Hall on Tuesday evenings, and a small
