Fourteen members of the Chamber Choir had the privilege of singing in four performances of English National Ballet's stunning new production of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker at the Mayflower Theatre last week. It was exciting and inspiring to witness an enterprise of this size being put together, and the technical and dress rehearsals were as fascinating as the live shows. 

Prior to each show, we had been asked to entertain patrons with carols in the foyer and bar. This was great fun, and the Estonian carol that the conductor, Maria Seletskaja, had asked us to prepare went down especially well with a very enthusiastic crowd.

Our big moment was in the Waltz of the Snowflakes. We had to - very quietly - descend hundreds of stairs from our green room, cross the width of the stage underground, sneak past the orchestra pit, and assemble silently in a stairwell (knowing that there were 2,300 people on the other side of the door!) Our cue was A Pine Forest in Winter which many of us had played in the Summer Concert, so we knew it extremely well. We then took up our positions in a gallery right above the orchestra (trying to resist the temptation to look at the beautiful sets and whirls of dancers on stage) and launched into song. 

Mr du Plessis told us that every live performance is different, and this was definitely true! But we loved all four of them. It was also a surprise to take our seats in the balcony for Act Two and be applauded by all the audience members around us when they realised who we were.

Everybody that we worked with was so kind. The English National Ballet team knew that we were children and wanted us to be excited and swept up in the magic of everything... but they also treated us like professionals, and trusted us. It was a great honour, and we learned a lot by watching them work together. 

This brand-new production has had a string of glowing reviews. We were proud to find ourselves name-checked in two of these:

"The 60 piece English National Ballet Philharmonic are brilliant throughout, but here in this scene they are augmented by the voices of Winchester’s Pilgrims’ School Chamber Choir; this added something very special to what was already the most beautiful experience I have ever witnessed on any stage."
Overtures – Live on Stage 

"I felt tears run down my face during the Waltz of the Snowflakes when choristers from The Pilgrims' School Chamber Choir sang the melody… a treble voice is the most pure and beautiful sound."
Jenny Rainbird, Voice FM 

Especial thanks are due to Mrs Brill, Ms Willcocks, Mr Reid, Mrs Beaumont and Mrs Duncan for chaperoning us. We hope that they had an exciting time, too!

English National Ballet's Nutcracker now moves to The Coliseum in London.

But move quickly if you want to grab a seat - more than half the performances are already sold out!

The Pilgrims' School Chamber Choir