On Sunday 8 March 2026, the Senior Choir from Nottingham Girls’ High School GDST was crowned the GSA Senior Choir of the Year 2026; a triumph in a very competitive field, and a very fitting way to celebrate International Women’s Day.
This prestigious annual event for all schools in the Girls’ Schools Association (GSA) saw both Junior and Senior choirs competing for the title. Following the preliminary round via video entry, the six best choirs were selected to perform live in the Final, which this year was held at St Helen and St Katharine School in Abingdon and sponsored by the The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).
The three judges were Dr Charlotte Exon (Director of Music at St Helen & St Katharine), Holly Mathieson (Artistic Advisor of Symphony Nova Scotia in Canada and acclaimed Conductor, across opera, ballet, and symphonic repertoire) and Dr Charles Béquignon-Macdougall (ABRSM Consultant, Director and Trustee of the Choral Foundation of His Majesty’s Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace, Creative Director of Gabrieli Roar and Musical Director of Trinity Laban Conservatoire Chamber Choir).
To win an event of this calibre, the Choir performed ‘Nella Fantasia’ (by Morricone arr. Neaum) and ‘Dancing Song’ (by Kodaly). They were praised for their beautiful vocal lines, clear diction and animated delivery. After ‘Dancing Song’, one of the esteemed judges said that they simply wrote ‘Wow!’
This was the highest standard final yet, and the school was thrilled to be competing against so many other talented schools. Many congratulations to our fabulous Choir Director Freya Hales and to our talented and hard-working singers who gave it their all.
Nottingham Girls’ Director of Music, Mrs Chris Clarke said, “I’m absolutely thrilled with our girls’ performance on Sunday. Not only did they impress the judges with their musicality and technique, most importantly it was their love and passion for singing that shone through. We are so proud of them.”