Contact: Jenni Brockman "Magnificent" is the word St. Margaret's Ensemble used to describe their recent trip to London, England. A select musical group of nine sophomores, juniors, and seniors, the Ensemble was one of five "Margaret" schools worldwide participating in a special Thanksgiving Service in St. Paul's Cathedral, commemorating the 250th anniversary of St. Margaret's School, Bushey (England). The commemoration service featured a mass choir of 210 girls from 6 countries. Held on All Saint's Day, Tuesday, November 16, the special service honored one of the United Kingdom's oldest schools: SMS, Bushey. Other Margaret schools worldwide present were: St. Margaret's School, Aberdeen, Scotland; Queen Margaret School, York, England; St. Margaret's School, Berwick, Melbourne, Australia; Queen Margaret College, Wellington, New Zealand; and the Magnificat Children's Choir from Hungary. Composer Allen Bullard commisioned the recording of a piece of music performed by the mass choir. The selection on compact disc, including a special note of dedication, will soon be available to the public.
Her Royal High Princess Alexandra attended the service representing the Royal Family. After the service, Ensemble President Truc Pham and other choir presidents were priveleged to speak with Princess Alexandra in a formal receiving line. Beverley Gordon, SMS Ensemble director and music teacher, chaperoned the group along with Headmistress Margaret Broad and her husband David. Other SMS representatives were: former Alumnae Director, Carol Smith, Board of Governors member and tour organizer, Ellen LeCompte, and Alumnae Council members, Annielee Welch Bentley and Martha Merz Horlebein. "This was a unique opportunity for our girls to sing with a huge international choir in magnificent St. Paul's at an event important enough to have royalty present," Gordon said. "We were thrilled to be part of this celebration." During their stay in London, the girls were housed in Kensington Row apartments. Ensemble participants attended theater performances of Chicago and Phantom of the Opera. Additionally, they were given a private tour of the House of Lords by Lord Hanningfield. Other activities included chasing geese in Kensington Gardens; mastering Londons underground subway affectionately called "the Tube"; attending a workshop at the Globe Theatre, where Rachelle Slotnick, of Tappahannock, played Romeo in a scene from Romeo and Juliet; and visiting the Houses of Parliament, Madame Toussaud's, Windsor Castle and Kensington Palace. The 250th anniversary Thanksgiving Service contained familiar prayers, readings and hymns that evoked the spirit of the evening's patron saint - Queen Margaret of Scotland for whom SMS, Bushey is named. Queen Margaret, a highly principled and devoted woman, was canonized in 1251. She led a deeply religious life filled with providing Christian charity and service to those less fortunate. She had a profound influence on other people and was able to institute fundamental changes in social attitudes prevalent in 11th century Scotland. "It was the spirit of St. Margaret that guided us toward St. Paul's," Headmistress Broad said. "We had a wonderful St. Margaret's Day celebration and were truly humbled by our trip. In a word, it was magnificent!"
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ensemble Returns from London, 250th Anniversary Service of St. Margaret's School, Bushey
1999 SMS Ensemble, London, England.
SMS Ensemble members Margot Whisnant, Dwann Cutler and Jeong Min Kim practice prior to their performance at St. Paul's Cathedral.
