Schola Cantorum Performs Mozart’s Requiem at St Augustine’s, Kilburn

On 6th November, our Schola Cantorum gave a beautiful and moving performance of Mozart’s Requiem at St Augustine’s Church, Kilburn, under the direction of Mr Bick, Director of Schola. The evening showcased the exceptional talent of our singers in an historic setting, creating the perfect atmosphere for the transcendent score of Mozart's final composition.

Mozart’s Requiem—a Mass for the dead—was left unfinished at the composer’s death in 1791 and later completed by his student Franz Xaver Süssmayr. Combining Mozart’s classical grace with a profound emotional depth befitting the sacred text, the Requiem remains one of the most beloved choral masterpieces in Western music. Its Lacrimosa, in particular, stood out for its heart-wrenching beauty and expressive power.

The work’s mystique has endured for centuries, inspiring countless books, films, and legends, much of it fuelled by the mystery surrounding Mozart’s final days and the incomplete nature of the score.

The performance at St Augustine’s was a memorable evening of music, bringing this timeless masterpiece vividly to life in the church’s magnificent Gothic setting.

St Augustine’s Church, Kilburn—“The Cathedral of North London”—is an Anglo-Catholic parish of the Church of England, founded in 1870 and consecrated in 1880. The Grade I listed building is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture, and continues to serve a vibrant, diverse community through worship, music, and outreach.

As a special encore, the Schola performed a newly commissioned motet by Sir James MacMillan, written specifically for the ASCC Schola to mark the Grenfell Tower anniversary in June. First sung on 17th June at Westminster Cathedral, the choir offered this moving piece again to their Kilburn audience.

Inspired by the In Paradisum text from the Requiem Mass, MacMillan’s motet is a deeply reflective work, seamlessly blending Gregorian chant traditions with a tender reference to O When the Saints—a heartfelt nod to the choir’s name and spiritual heritage.

It was a night that united history, faith, and musical dedication and talent, reminding all present of the enduring power of sacred music to move the soul.