Jacquelyne Hill - BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year 2009

Music:

In the preliminary rounds of the 2009 BBC 2 Young Chorister of the Year, Jacquelyne submitted the following two recordings

The two pieces of music were:

1. Jacquelyne’s singing – “Ave Maria” by JS Bach arr: Gounod

2. Jacquelyne singing “ And did those feet in Ancient Times (Jerusalem)”
Words: William Blake. Music: Charles Hubert Hastings Parry

In the final at St Paul’s Cathedral Jacquelyne sang the following two pieces of music:

Aled Jones & Jacquelyne
Picture: - Gary Moyes BBC

1. “There is a Green Hill Far Away” Words: Cecil Frances Alexander. Music: William Horsley

2. “Ave Maria” by JS Bach arr: Gounod

Click the music symbols to hear this recording made for BBC Radio 2

Music Samples

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ADDITIONAL RECORDINGS OF JACQUELYN WILL BE ON THIS WEB SITE BEFORE THE END OF 2009

Published Date: 05 November 2009

IT has been a whirlwind week for young chorister Jacquelyne Hill after her winning performance was aired on radio.

The 17-year old singer from Tarring experienced her first five minutes of fame on Sunday, November 1, when the final of the BBC Radio 2 Young Choristers of The Year was broadcast."Jacs", of Priory Close, said: "It was a bit surreal hearing myself and you always sound different. I would not even have recognised that was me.

"My singing does not sound anything like it does in my head."

The singer scooped the prestigious title during the final at St Paul's Cathedral, hosted by singer Aled Jones.
After the final was aired, Jacs was inundated with calls of congratulations.
"I got lots of phone calls. Three minutes after it finished, the phone didn't stop ringing," she said. "I got really embarrassed."
The competition is in its 24th year and there are currently talks as to whether Jacs will sing in a Songs of Praise special.
The student is busy juggling her first year of college work at Steyning Grammar Sixth Form with her singing lessons and new-found commitments.
Singing teacher Jackie Harben said she was "very proud" of her star pupil and said she thoroughly deserved to win.
"The last two weeks she was with me every single day. If you want to be proficient you have got to live, breathe and sleep it."

BBC Radio 2 Young Choristers of the Year 2009 announced

9 November 2009

The winners of BBC Radio 2’s Young Choristers of the Year 2009 competition have been announced. Laurence Kilsby and Jacquelyne Hill won the final, held at St Paul’s Cathedral on 23 October and broadcast on Radio 2 on 1 November.
Having got through two rounds of heats, each of the eight finalists (four boys and four girls) had to sing two verses of a hymn and an anthem in front of an audience, and a panel of judges comprising Lindsay Gray (director of the Royal School of Church Music), singer and actress Barbara Dickson, vocal coach Carrie Grant and composer Karl Jenkins.
Kilsby, an 11-year-old chorister at Tewkesbury Abbey and pupil at Dean’s Close School, won the boys’ section with ‘There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy’ and Ireland’s A Thing Most Wonderful, while 17-year-old Hill of St Andrew’s, Tarring, and Steyning Grammar, took the girls’ prize with ‘There is a Green Hill Far Away’ and Gounod’s Ave Maria. Hill was one of two finalists from parish church choirs, with Radley and Winchester colleges, and the cathedrals of Peterborough, Winchester and Chester also represented.
Both winners receive a trophy and a choice of lessons with a leading British vocal coach. They will also have the chance to appear on television and radio, including on BBC Radio 2’s Good Morning Sunday and Radio 4’s Daily Service, with a Songs of Praise appearance being mooted as well.
The annual competition, running for the 24th time, was open to choristers aged between 11 and 17 who are regular members of a choir or other music group, singing in acts of worship of any denomination. The final was hosted by Aled Jones, and the event also included a performance by Only Men Aloud, the winners of BBC One’s Last Choir Standing in 2008.
Bob Shennan, controller of Radio 2, said: ‘These two talented young singers represent the best of religious choral singing in the UK. Radio 2 is delighted to recognise the contribution that young people make to choirs and music groups in places of worship across the UK and give their musical talents a national platform.’

Steyning student named chorister of the year

Published Date: 29 October 2009

A 17-YEAR-OLD girl has beaten off stiff competition to be named chorister of the year.
Jacquelyne (Jacs) Hill, a student at Steyning Grammar School sixth form, won the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year award after she performed at St Paul's Cathedral. Now her year is going to be jam-packed with concerts as she tours the country representing the BBC. Jacs, who sings in the St Andrew's Church choir at West Tarring, said the news was still sinking in.
Nervous
"I had got it into my brain not to expect to win, so that the nerves would go away, so it did not register with me," she said.
"Also, I could not hear to begin with, because the microphone was off, so the producer came over and said I had won."
She said she had been "unbelievably nervous", but had enjoyed the final.
"I was very excited about it. The day itself was really good and everyone there was nice."
Choir
Jacs, of Priory Close, Tarring, sang with Excelsis Singers at St Andrew's Church before moving into the formal choir.
Parishioners were given the chance to hear Jacs in action as she performed Ave Maria after communion on Sunday, October 25.
Jacs is the second pupil singing teacher Jackie Harben has successfully turned into a chorister of the year. Rose Setten, from Findon Valley, scooped the title in 2004.

Winners of the Radio 2 Young Choristers Of The Year 2009 announced

... Date: 30.10.2009 Category: Radio 2

BBC Radio 2 is proud to announce Jacquelyne Hill and Laurence Kilsby as the BBC Radio 2 Young Choristers Of The Year 2009. The Final, hosted by Aled Jones, presenter of Radio 2's Good Morning Sunday, saw four boys and four girls each sing two verses of a hymn and an anthem in front of an audience at St Pauls Cathedral in London on Friday 23 October. Jacquelyne, from Tarring, Worthing, West Sussex, sings at St Andrews, Tarring; and Laurence, from Stow-on-the Wold, Gloucestershire, sings at Tewkesbury Abbey/Dean Close Preparatory School. Lindsay Gray, Director of the Royal School of Church Music, chaired the panel of judges ? singer Barbara Dickson, singer and vocal coach Carrie Grant and composer Karl Jenkins. The evening also featured a special performance by Only Men Aloud, last year's winners of BBC One's Last Choir Standing. Bob Shennan, Controller of Radio 2, ...