O Clap Your Hands

400 Voices from Nine Schools Unite to Mark 175 Years of S. Thomas' College

On the evening of Sunday, 28 June 2026, the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour in Colombo 7 will fill with the sound of close to 400 young voices, as the Chapel Choir of S. Thomas’ College is joined by eight visiting school choirs and a brass ensemble for “O Clap Your Hands – A Festival Service of Thanksgiving.” The service begins at 6.00 p.m., with the congregation asked to be seated by 5.45 p.m. All are welcome.

The festival is presented by S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia, as part of its 175th anniversary celebrations. It brings together choristers from Bishop’s College, Holy Family Convent (Bambalapitiya), Ladies’ College, Methodist College, S. Thomas’ Preparatory School (Kollupitiya), Royal College, Trinity College (Kandy) and Wesley College, singing alongside the College’s own Chapel Choir – nine distinguished schools united on one platform in a rare collaboration of music and fellowship.

The music is directed by Harin Amirthanathan, with Denham Pereira at the organ and a brass ensemble led by Vidhurinda Samaraweera. The programme draws on the great tradition of English choral music, with works including Stanford’s Jubilate, Howells’ Magnificat ‘Collegium Regale’, Parry’s O Praise Ye the Lord, Burkhardt’s Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, Rutter’s The Peace of God, McKie’s We Wait for Thy Loving Kindness, and Prichard’s Ye That Know the Lord Is Gracious, among others, carried by massed voices, organ and brass beneath the Cathedral’s soaring acoustics.

“This is believed to be the first time as many as four hundred young singers from across the schools have come together as a single choir in Sri Lanka,” said a spokesperson for S. Thomas' College, which is hosting the festival. “It speaks to what this anniversary is really about – not one school’s history, but a shared heritage of music, faith and fellowship that these institutions have carried for generations.”

The service, at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour in Colombo 7, is expected to run for approximately ninety minutes, opening with the Cathedral’s Angelus. Members of the public are warmly invited to attend. Ushering on the evening will be carried out by prefects of the participating schools.