On Monday 4th March, Howell's Prep School's Junior Competition Choir (or JCC as it is known), travelled to London to take part in the final of the Barnardo's National Choral Competition 2019. After setting off early from Howell's, accompanied by our splendid red dragon mascot, JCC made their way to London's magnificent Royal Festival Hall. One of JCC's members, Casi D was also competing with her choir, Cor Heol Y March and we arrived just in time to sit in the vast auditorium and enjoy their beautiful performance. JCC gave Casi's choir rapturous applause and their support for her was clearly evident. After a short warm up in the Green Room, our 38 strong choir, made up of girls from Years 4, 5 and 6, conducted by Mrs Clouter and accompanied by Mr Shewring, stepped confidently out onto the huge stage to perform for the four adjudicators and a large contingent of supporters! And perform they did! They gave an absolutely stunning performance of Can You Hear Me? composed by Bob Chilcott. This moving but unsentimental piece describes the wonder of the world as seen by a deaf child. The addition of sign language in the choruses makes the song even more poignant. In complete contrast to this, the girls' faces took on a warrior look as they performed an arrangement of Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho, displaying not only tight musicality but also some quite fearsome battle moves, carefully choreographed by Mrs Manning. Our supporters, who had travelled with us from Wales, made it very clear that they had thoroughly enjoyed the performance and also greeted the choir extremely enthusiastically with a guard of honour as they returned to the foyer! After a break for food and fresh air, it was back for a rehearsal of the massed choirs, ready for the evening concert. Led by eminent conductor and composer, Douglas Coombes, the 800 strong massed choir sang a specially commissioned piece, Barnardo's and the stirring, World in Union, accompanied by the mighty Royal Festival Hall organ. Each choir performed one piece from its repertoire at the concert in a very slick operation which saw some 18 Junior Choirs and 8 Senior Choirs perform. Once again, the Howell's girls blew their audience away with a repeat rendition of Joshua. When the competition results were announced, everyone at Howell's were delighted to learn that fellow Welsh coir, Heol Y March had been awarded runners up in the Junior Choir section. Congratulations to Casi D and her choir! The late night journey back to Cardiff saw many girls, parents and staff falling asleep, tired but wholly elated and honoured to have had the experience of taking part in the national final of what has become a prestigious youth choral competition. A memory which will remain with them for many years to come.