As the Kingston College community marches towards celebrating its centenary, included among the trophies being picked up along the way has to be the spectacular performance of the decorated Kingston College Chapel Choir (KCCC) for its Christmas Concert 2024.

Under the seemingly strict baton of Choirmaster Audley Davidson, the KCCC and the Fortis Friends Chamber Ensemble filled St Augustine Chapel, on the college’s North Street campus, with the musical strains of the Yuletide.

The approximately hour-and-a-half programme, without intermission, featured work from composers local and foreign, ancient and modern.

The choristers presented smart in bow ties and waistcoats of their signature royal hue. The show opened with a grand fanfare scored by English composer Martin Shaw. From the cleanness of the first entry the orchestra and choir had found favour with the audience. The music filled the chapel with bounce and reverb enhancing the blend of notes.

The main work, Missa Brevis in C Major, K 259, from the hand of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, followed. The boys’ mature attack of the by-no-means easy score and text culminated in an exquisite presentation from start to finish.

On display was a trained company of voices and musicians, who had taken the time to learn the music, understand the time in which the work had been written, and offered to the audience an enjoyable interpretation of the pieces, from Kyrie to Agnus Dei. Listeners were on edge to respond in applause.

As for the soloists, soprano Lori Burnett, alto Joshua Swaby, tenor Jesse McClure, and Matthew Hylton, bass, their mastery of the interplay of voice parts with duets, trios and quartets served to accentuate the sound. Special mention must be made of the powerhouse that is Burnett. Her use of texture and tone to match the purity of the boys’ voices was a masterclass. Unequivocally one of Jamaica’s best sopranos these days, Burnett was thrilling in her performance.

The growing-in-popularity Every Valley by John Ness Beck was next up. Khyle Townsend opened with a strong solo; however, the choir’s entry was not as solid — probably owing to the choirmaster’s decision to have the choristers walking in while singing. Nonetheless, the piece ended glowingly with a grand “Amen!”

The remainder of programme featured the sweetly seasonal In Dulci Jubilo (Robert Pearsall), All Bells In Paradise (John Rutter), All On A Starry Night (Joseph Graham), and Rejoice A King Is Born (Tom Fettke), all earning rousing applause in honour of the beauty of the sound.

Treble Kai’Den Evering, joined by cellist Rashida Nelson, would deliver This Little Light Of Mine, arranged by Ken Berg. And shine did Evering shine. His pitch and tonal quality, sans vibrato, commanded the audience to sit up and take notice. One of the longest applauses of the evening went to Evering.

Burnett’s return with the lullaby Sweet Little Jesus Boy, arranged by local composer Godfrey Taylor, stunned the audience to pin-drop silence — broken by delight at its final chord.

The more rhythmic selections were Vin Kelly’s The Baby King, Him Bawn by Jamaicans Hugh Douse and Matthew Silpot, The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy, O Magnify the Lord — orchestrated by Paulette Bellamy — and the great wish song Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.

The audience was not left out of the singing as they were asked to join in O Come All Ye Faithful and the final item for the evening Hark The Herald Angels Sing with fanfare commissioned by KCCC from local composer Andrew Marshall.

The Fortis Friends Chamber Ensemble and Livingston Burnett, on piano and organ — and husband to soprano Lori — provided sure accompaniment for the majority of the items and must be commended.

The selections introduced the audience to the joys of the season and, while the programme may have been a bit moreish, a pleasurable time was had by everyone.

In all, a well-produced show complete with lighting display. The grandness of the show’s usual home, the University Chapel, was not missed.

Take a bow, Choirmaster! All the very best for Fortis 100.

— MAT

Choristers thrill the chapel audience. (Naphtali Junior)

Soprano Lori Burnett stuns with Sweet Little Jesus Boy arranged by Godfrey Taylor. (Naphtali Junior)

Treble Kai’Den Evering sings This Little Light Of Mine, arranged by Ken Berg. (Naphtali Junior)