Emotional gift of song fills chapel

ONE LAST SONG: Professor Paul Farrington sings at the New Zealand Opera school Chapel Service at Wanganui Collegiate School. He leaves the school after 10 years. PHOTOS/LEWISGARDNER 110115WCLGSERVICE6

When one of the world's finest vocal coaches, Professor Paul Farrington, sang the Lacrimosa (Do not stand at my grave and weep) from the Eternal Light: A Requiem, there was a reverent hush in the Wanganui Collegiate Chapel yesterday.

The chapel was packed for this - the 21st year of the school - and it was also Professor Farrington's final time teaching at the New Zealand Opera School after 10 years.

His rendition of the Lacrimosa was beautiful, a perfect emotional gift of song.

The World War I commemorative service by the New Zealand Opera School was a gracious and stirring account dedicated to the 700 old boys and masters who had served overseas; 156 old boys, seven masters and four domestic staff lost their lives.

Screens on the walls throughout the chapel rolled grainy black and white pictures of those men as the service progressed.

School executive chairman Donald Trott opened the service with a reflection of the men from the school who had served and those who had died.

The chapel was one of many memorials worldwide to the men who fought and died in World War I, he said.

The 22 students of the school followed this reflection and sang the glorious anthem My Soul there is a country conducted by Travis Baker. The organ was played by Alan Gray, from Nelson Cathedral.

Dame Malvina Major emerging artist Chelsea Dolman sang an exquisite version of Pie Jesu by Faure.

Remembrance through the love of music rang clear throughout this chapel service ... it was beautiful.