Proud to have been affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music since 1947
We have a well-run, enthusiastic SATB choir under the expert direction of Jonathan Holmes, MA (Oxon), B.Mus, FRCO, ARCM and are privileged to be continuing a long-standing choral tradition in the church.
We offer our choristers a free musical education and encourage them through the Royal School of Church Music’s “Voice for Life” training scheme. As you will see from the table below, many of our choristers go on to pass prestigious externally-run RSCM exams at both national and Area level. Adult singers are paid to sing at weddings and memorial services, while all choristers in full-time education receive pay for practices and services plus weddings and memorial services at which they sing.
The Choir is a mixed ensemble of adults and children which sings polyphonic works dating from the Renaissance, plus music from the Anglican Cathedral repertoire and pieces by modern composers of quality, in the context of a broadly traditional style of liturgy.
The termly choir diary and music list gives some idea of the choir’s commitments.
You will see from the Music List that we have a fair amount of music to sing and our repertoire is such that we have enjoyed visiting cathedrals to deputise when the resident choir is on holiday. The tracks below were recorded on our 2013 trip to Belfast Cathedral (more here):
Sanctus and Benedictus — Messe Solonnelle: Louis Vierne
Agnus Dei — Messe Solonnelle: Louis Vierne
O salutaris hostia: Marcel Dupre
Recruitment
As with all choirs, we are always looking for recruits and the Director of Music would be pleased to meet potential choristers of all voices – both complete novices and experienced singers keen to join the present forces in making a practical contribution to the musical life of the parish. We accept youngsters from about the age of seven and adults of any age.
If you are interested in finding out more– please get in touch through our Contact Us page.