HEREFORD Sixth Form College’s Academia Musica Choir teamed with the Choir of Selwyn College Cambridge to give a fine performance of the St John Passion at St John’s Smith Square, London on February 22.

Following their very successful tour of Cambridge two years ago, Sarah MacDonald, music director of Selwyn College was so impressed she proposed a joint concert in a prestigious venue. Hereford Sixth Form College’s director of music, Aryan Arji said "It was a privilege for our choir to join one of the best choirs in the country and Cambridge University Baroque Orchestra under the direction of Sarah MacDonald, who was the first woman to be a director of music in an Oxbridge College and has an impressive career as a professional pianist, organist and conductor. I was proud of the way our choir rose to the challenge of singing this extremely difficult work.”

Sarah MacDonald said “I am sure no other maintained school or college in England could produce such a choir. It is a testament to Aryan Arji’s vision and the commitment and the hard work of all the college music staff and students. I was amazed by the fabulous singing of the Hereford students and by their enthusiasm and professionalism.”

The concert was sponsored by the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) as a showcase for the impressive musical standards which students can achieve in such colleges. David Igoe, chief executive of SFCA said “The concert was a superb demonstration of the quality of musical education provided by Hereford Sixth Form College. It was a wonderful evening."

Following the success of this concert the Academia Musica Choir will be performing a concert of Passion Tide Music in St John’s Smith Square on April 19. Tickets are available from St John’s Smith Square (www.sjss.org.uk).