Chorus receives invite to London festival

By LaTria Garnigan

Students and faculty at Fayette County High were recently
honored with a grand visit. Sir Winston Churchill’s great grandson,
Duncan Sandys, visited the school to personally invite the chorus
to perform in the London International Choral Festival in London,
England Dec. 27 to Jan. 4, 2012.

Choral Director Richard Prouty received an e-mail from a contact
with the festival in the U.S. inquiring about the program at
Fayette County High School.

“They were asking what our traditions were as far as touring,”
said Prouty. “I let them know we have a tradition of touring
domestically and internationally every year. Since 1999 we’ve been
traveling to Europe every other year and doing invitation
concerts.”

The festival is being held in conjunction with the London New
Year’s Parade. According to a news release, it is the first
official event in Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee
Celebration, honoring 60 years on the throne.

Sandys, whose official title is the Lord Mayor of the city of
Westminster, serves in a largely ceremonial role as the ‘First
Citizen’ of the city of Westminster. He is the youngest person to
achieve the high office, at the age of 35.

Like all of the choral department’s travels, the students will
hold fundraisers throughout the school year and summer to pay for
the overseas trip. In the past, the department has traveled to
Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, Ireland, England
and France.

“It was a surprise to be chosen, especially for the fact there’s
only 10 schools in the entire U.S. that are invited to participate
in the choral gala,” said Prouty. “It’s in conjunction with the
London New Year’s Day parade. Our marching band has actually been
invited two times to participate in that.”