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Commonwealth Games 2022 - Birmingham

The Queen’s Baton Relay

A Baton carrying Her Majesty The Queen's
message to The Commonwealth
began its journey on 7 October 2021 to the
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
with a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

The Queen's message was read aloud
at the Opening Ceremony of the
Commonwealth Games 2022 Birmingham,
but first, it travelled to
72 Commonwealth territories and nations,
connecting communities over 90,000 miles.

The Commonwealth Youth Orchestra and Choir
Is honoured to have had its recording of
“A Song For The Commonwealth”,
composed by Simon Haw MBE,
used to accompany the official post of
The Queen writing Her Majesty’s message.

The Queen's Baton Relay Route

Guildhall, City of London

On Thursday 14 July 2022
to mark and celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of
Her Majesty The Queen,
the City of London Corporation
hosted a concert at Guildhall in
the City of London, performed by the
Commonwealth Scholars’ Choir and
Commonwealth Youth Choir with
the Band of the Coldstream Guards,
conducted by Major Stewart Halliday.

The music programme included:
“The Platinum Jubilee Anthem” - Simon Haw MBE
“April’s Song” from “Green Canopy” - Simon Haw MBE
“Beacon of Brightest Light” - Debbie Wiseman OBE
“Respect” from “Earth Dance” - Simon Haw MBE
“Song for The Commonwealth” - Simon Haw MBE
“The Commonwealth Anthem” - Paul Carroll arr. Hallatt

Remarks were given by:

Alderman and Sheriff Nicholas Lyons,
The Lord Mayor Locum Tenens

Stephen Twigg - Secretary-General,
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Lieutenant Colonel Simon Haw MBE,
Commanding Office Bands of the Household Division

Horse Guards Parade

To mark and celebrate the Platinum Jubilee
of Her Majesty The Queen, 160 members of
the Commonwealth Youth Choir were invited
to perform “A Song For The Commonwealth”
with the Massed Bands of the Household Division,
at “The Queen and The Commonwealth”,
a musical spectacular on Horse Guards Parade,
on 5,6,7 July 2022, in the presence of
HRH The Duke of Kent and an audience of 10,000.

Crown Copyright ©

Tower of London

On 2 June 2022 the Commonwealth Youth Choir
was honoured to perform at the official
Beacon Lighting at the
Tower of London
To mark and celebrate the
Platinum Jubilee of
Her Majesty The Queen.

On Sunday 15 May 2022 the opening event
of the official celebrations of
Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
was held in the grounds of Windsor Castle,
in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen.

The Commonwealth Youth Choir was
honoured to be invited to perform the
opening song, “Sing”, composed by
Gary Barlow and Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber,
with vocalist Keala Settle and the 70-piece
Tri-Service Symphonic Orchestra.

ITV © 2022

Green Canopy
Composed by Simon Haw MBE

A new composition to mark and celebrate
The Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen

The world-premiere recording of Green Canopy
was made in January 2022,
performed by Commonwealth Orchestra Concert Master
solo violinist Eric Hui-Ti Wang with
The Orchestra of the Household Division.

Together they performed the world-premiere performance
Green Canopy on Commonwealth Day 14 March 2022
and the recording was released in Commonwealth Week
March 2022, in the year of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Green Canopy has been developed in close artist collaboration with
Sally Shebe, Director-General of Commonwealth Music
and is support of The Queen’s Green Canopy

To listen to this world-premiere recording of Green Canopy
Click here

"Vivat Regina" - A concert to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen

On Saturday 23 April 2022 at Salisbury Cathedral
the Commonwealth Youth Choir performed,
with the Central Band of the Royal British Legion,
conducted by David Cole OBE, MVO, in
“Vivat Regina”, a special concert to mark and celebrate
the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen.

The programme of music, performed to a capacity audience
in the magnificent Salisbury Cathedral, was a magnificent tribute
to Her Majesty The Queen on the occasion, in 2022,
of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.

Included in the programme of music, was a
world-premiere performance of the
Platinum Jubilee Anthem, “In Our Service”,
composed by Thomas Hewitt Jones, which was
commissioned by The Royal School of Church Music.

As a member of the Guild of Commonwealth Composers,
the music compositions of Thomas Hewitt Jones will be
featured, performed and recorded by
the Commonwealth Orchestras and Choirs.

The Commonwealth Music Academy

On Monday 7 February 2022 at 12 noon,
To mark and celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,
Head of The Commonwealth,
The Commonwealth Youth Orchestra and Choir (CYO)
announced the launch of
The Commonwealth Music Academy.

On Commonwealth Day, 14 March 2022
The Commonwealth Music Academy launched
A Guild of Commonwealth Composers,
which is commissioning
Music Composers in all 54 countries of The Commonwealth
To create music compositions which will be performed and recorded by
The Commonwealth Music Academy Recording Faculty.

On Commonwealth Anniversary Day, 28 April 2022
The Commonwealth Guild of Composers released
a set of 6 new recordings and new music commissions
to mark and celebrate the
Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen.

These new tracks can be listened to by clicking here.

Read more...

On Monday 7 February 2022 at 12 noon,
To mark and celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,
Head of The Commonwealth,
The Commonwealth Youth Orchestra and Choir
is delighted to announce the launch of
The Commonwealth Music Academy.

Read more...

A Song For The Commonwealth.

The Queen and The Commonwealth
A Commonwealth Chronology.

On 20 October 2021 an unique and historic initiative
has been launched at Cambridge University
to mark and celebrate the
Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen in 2022.

“The Queen and The Commonwealth,
A Commonwealth Chronology” is being presented by
the Commonwealth Youth Orchestra and Choir
and the State Ceremonial Musicians of the Household Division,
In collaboration with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

A programme which will Illustrate the chronology of the
creation of the 21st century Commonwealth, showing its
expansion from its establishment as a voluntary organisation
on 28 April 1949, with the eight founding Nations - Australia,
Canada, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka
and the United Kingdom - to its current 54 member states.

When the eight founding Nations joined together and formed the
‘Modern Commonwealth’, they invited His Majesty King George VI
to become the first Head of The Commonwealth.
Following the death of King George VI, on 6 February 1952,
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the Throne,
and the eight founding Commonwealth Nations invited The Queen
to succeed King George VI, as second Head of The Commonwealth.

In 2022 Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II will have been
Head of The Commonwealth for 70 years.

Read more...