AQUILA
When my two sons were choristers in the chapel choir of St John’s College, Cambridge, Andrew Nethsingha invited me to form an all-female vocal group comprising staff and students. AQUILA, named after the college’s eagle emblem, gave its first performance on International Women’s Day 2018 to great acclaim. I continued to direct the group for the next five years before handing over the George Herbert in September 2022.
We managed to keep going during the covid years by rehearsing over zoom - always a challenge! - and making three remote recordings (see videos below). I’m very proud of the group’s continuing ethos of championing music written and recorded by women and for welcoming everyone who’d like to join, without audition and regardless of any previous experience. Long may it thrive!
“When we first had our conversation about setting up an all-female vocal group I could never have dreamt that it would be even a quarter as successful as Joanna quickly made it. I will never forget that first concert in the Old Divinity School; at the time I felt it was one of the most joyous musical events of my time at St John’s.
I must say a colossal thank you to Joanna for introducing a wonderful new dimension to music-making at St John’s. She gave many people a vast amount of pleasure and nourishment.”
Andrew Nethsingha
Joanna rehearsing AQUILA, February 2018