Excitement filled the air as everyone geared up for one of the year's most anticipated events - the Company Shout! - the grand finale of the Cecilia James Music Festival! The whole school gathered with much anticipation and an eagerness to get started.

But before the Company Shout, the category winners from earlier in the day performed as finalists for the Cecilia James Prize. Under the watchful eyes of a supportive chapel filled with the whole school community, it was once again a challenging decision. This year, the deserving trophy winner was Mia (UVI, drum kit and glockenspiel).

Then, after a day filled with outstanding music-making, as students competed across eight different categories- including solo instruments, voice, ensembles, and duos - it was finally time for the highly anticipated Company Shout.

The theme of this year's Shout was 'Female Divas'. The companies were accompanied by a live band, consisting of St Mary’s very own Mr and Mrs Allard, Miss Arthur, St Margaret’s Mr Harman and guest guitarist.

This year's brilliant song selections were:

- Grosstete - 'Holding out for a Hero', Bonnie Tyler
- Osmund - 'Telephone', Lady Gaga & Beyoncé
- Poore - 'Call Me Maybe', Carly Rae Jepsen
- Moberly - 'Man I Feel Like a Woman', Gloria Gaynor

It’s debateable whether the noise levels were highest for the competitive screaming or the shouts themselves. Every girl took part and gave their all, looking splendid in their company colours as they sang and danced their hearts out. 

Whilst the adjudicator was deliberating, there was a very special surprise performance of one last shout. The staff’s sterling effort was incredibly well received by all. Thanks to Miss Firth and Miss Caldwell for taking charge. 

The Shout champions 2024 were Moberly with Shania Twain’s ‘Man! I Feel Like a Woman’ and the overall Cecilia James Festival Cup was won this year by Poore.

A special thanks goes to the band, Mr Slater and his team for the sound and visual engineering, to Mrs Black for all her assistance and to the other members of the Music Department for their invaluable help.

Mrs Rachel Allard - Singing Teacher and Co-ordinator of the Cecilia James Music Festival