The Royal College Choir, one of the oldest school choirs in the region, was formed in November, 1919 along with the school’s Musical Society (now the Western Music Society) under the patronage of Acting Principal Lewis Walker, Esq, members of staff Messrs S. P. Foenander and J. M. Fonseka and its first Choral Director Ms. E. K. de Zilwa.

The years 1920 – 1930 can be considered to be the Choir’s first ‘Golden Era’ during which it flourished under the leadership of Principal Maj. Harry Leslie Reed and Master – in Charge Mr Robert C. Edwards and went on to win the Meaden Shield (Senior) Group Singing Competition, the country’s most prestigious choral music competition at the time, for ten consecutive years which includes a perfect score of 200/200 in the year 1926. The Royal College Song: ‘School of our Fathers’ also made its debut at the same competition in the year 1928.

Other years of significance in the Choir’s history include the year 1955 when the
first Carol Service took place and the year 1994 which saw the inauguration of theFestivalofChoirs by the Western Music Society.

Throughout the years the Royal College Choir has produced a number of renowned individuals in the field of music which include digital music pioneer Kala Suri Diliup Gabadamudalige, the country’s only Emmy Award-winning music producer Suren Wijeyaratne and acclaimed artist Santhush Weeraman.

The Royal College Choir, a part of the school’s living history, currently comprises of over fifty extremely talented and enthusiastic Royalists aged 10 – 20 years old who represent our hallowed institution in heart and voice at many occasions both in and outside College.

The students receive invaluable experience in training and singing classical and contemporary choral music of both western and eastern traditions and gain an understanding of the cultures in which the music they sing originates and the respective languages, styles and genres.

Apart from the musical training that is provided to the choristers, the Choir is always focused on instilling good values and a high level of discipline and enhancing qualities of leadership and teamwork within its members. The Choristers of Royal College strive to always set an example for their peers in thought, word and deed