City of London Choir and Hanover Band team with London primary school children

Performance of Bach's St Matthew Passion took place on March 25 at St John's, Smith Square

On Sunday March 25, St John's, Smith Square played host to the City of London Choir, the Hanover Band, five internationally renowned soloists and a special ripieno choir of 50 London primary school children who came together to perform Bach's St Matthew Passion.

The performance was the culmination of weeks of hard work from all involved but especially from the children from the Sir John Cass's Foundation Primary School (City of London), St Jude’s Church of England Primary School (Southwark) and Queensbridge Primary School (Hackney).

The schools' choir is an extension of the work of the Classical Roadshow which, like the City of London Choir, has Hilary Davan Wetton as its music director. It is an organisation that provides opportunities for children – whose schools’ musical activities are limited by curriculum, time and money – to perform with professional orchestras. The St Matthew Passion project was made possible by support from M&G Investments and the Grocer’s Company.

This May the City of London Choir under Devan Wetton will release the first UK recording of Beethoven's 'lost' cantata, Der glorreiche Augenblick for the Naxos label's 25th anniversary. The disc features the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Leon McCawley, Claire Rutter, Matilde Wallevik, Peter Hoare, Stephen Gadd and the Westminster Boys' Choir. To pre-order the disc click here.

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All photos credited to Pete Sherrard & Matt Desruisseaux