St. George’s Anglo-Indian School housed in the sprawling campus opposite the Pachaiyappa’s College is moving toward its tercentenary celebrations — 300 years of providing education.
St. George’s School and Orphanage began in 1715 under the aegis of St. Mary’s church in Fort St. George mainly to cater to the needs of poor, orphaned children. The school was then called the Civil Orphan Asylum with the wife of the Governor of Madras as its patron. The school functioned at what we now know as Egmore station and moved to its present campus when the Railways began construction.
The name St. George’s Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School and Orphanage was adopted as the school catered mainly to the orphaned children of Anglo-Indians, giving them a boarding home and education. Simultaneously the need to open its doors to all children who desired an education but could not afford other schools was taken and today St. George’s can boast of illustrious alumni of eminent doctors, lawyers, educationists, sports personalities, business men and women.
The school celebrates its tercentenary in 2015, and as a curtain-raiser organises a music concert on Easter Sunday, March 31, titled ‘He Is Alive’. The two-stage, sound and light programme will feature groups and soloists drawn from the musical fraternity in the city. The funds will go towards infrastructure and facilities improvement.
A special choir has been put together for the occasion and it will render excerpts from Handel’s Messiah . Augustine Paul, Arul Siromoney and Immanuel Ponraj will wield the baton.
The groups include: Women of Worth, Western Kacheri, Steps Band and In His Service. Some of the solo artistes are: Ramya NSK, Benzy, Sujan Daniel, Ebenezer Arun Kumar, Megha Elizabeth and Sangita Santosham.
Clement Sastriyar and Wind and Strings will present instrumental music.
Donor passes priced Rs. 50 and Rs. 100 (for school and college students) and Rs. 200, Rs. 500 and Rs. 750 (for adults) are available at the school office and at Pro Musicals, Musee Musical and at CLS, ELS and OM Books. Call 98401 75668 and 98400 60522 for details.
