The Telegraph – Jonathan Leigh
“Much has been written about the need for powerful musical programmes, not least by the supreme role model of Nicola Benedetti. Never has music’s influence been more vital than in today’s pressured world. The secret lies in its immediate and durable impact, as a tour of the Marlborough College Choir to Bayeux and Paris has just shown. This was holistic education well beyond the accountable daily curriculum. The key feature of choirs is their diversity. They can represent both genders, any age or nationality, irrespective of background. The only requirement is a willingness to cast shyness aside and sing. Through osmosis the confidence needed to partake grows “within” every eager participant. All differences are buried in a sublime recognition of the immediate present and what is actually happening now, not some life affecting distant target.”(more)