In quires and places…

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The King’s School, Canterbury The King’s School has its roots in the sixth century and its pupils live and work within the inspirational and ancient Precincts of Canterbury Cathedral and the grounds of St Augustine’s Abbey.

Music has played a central role in the school’s life from its monastic foundations. The Crypt Choir, under the direction of Howard Ionascu, is the school’s senior choir. Its primary purpose is to provide music for weekly school services in Canterbury Cathedral, where the King’s Scholars are part of the Foundation.

The choir also perform at outside venues, most recently The Temple Church, St John’s, Smith Square and Westminster Abbey. They have toured extensively, including to a number of European countries, New York, Boston, New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong. In 2005, the choir reached the final stage of the BBC Choir of the Year at the Lowry Centre in Salford. In July of that year they were invited to perform Tallis’ Spem in alium alongside The Sixteen and Harry Christophers in Canterbury Cathedral.

Howard Ionascu studied music at Manchester University and The Royal Northern College of Music, before being appointed a Vicar Choral in Wells Cathedral Choir. Whilst at Wells, he sang on many recordings, broadcasts and international tours. In 1997 he founded The Laudate Choir, a young semi-professional choir, which performs regularly in London as well as further afield. With The Laudate Choir, he has recorded various CDs for Meridian and Priory Records, most recently The Choral Music of Herbert Brewer and a CD of the music of George Jeffreys.