2004

Music in St. Mary’s – 2004-2005

I am delighted to report that music continues to thrive at St Mary’s.  The choir ‘front -rows’ are noticeably healthier than this time last year and the ‘back-row’ teams remain fully committed to their singing and as keen as ever to explore the new repertoire and challenges asked of them. 

During the past year the choir has made significant contributions not only to the major festivals but also to the weekly round of Sunday services and occasional weekday celebrations. Particularly memorable this year were the early morning Ascension Day service, RSCM 50th Anniversary weekend, Advent and Christmas carol services.  Details of all RSCM achievements can be found in a separate report. 

The soprano choir has been warmly welcomed on several occasions and their contribution to the musical life of the church is always appreciated. My thanks to Joanna Chugg for co-ordinating the ladies for the Easter and Christmas performances. There have also been a number of occasions when the St Mary’s choir has joined with other musicians to enhance the worship here and in other venues – parish service, joint service with Our Lady’s and Churches Together in Hitchin. Thanks too to Rosemary Read and her loyal band of instrumentalists who regularly play at Storytellers and Youth services. 

In addition to the music-making there have been the usual social events to look forward to throughout the year – football matches, bowling trips and barbecues. At present the trebles fine singing far exceeds their skills on the football pitch so if there are any keen football coaches reading this do get in touch!

This is an ideal opportunity to thank all of you for your support for the music at St Mary’s and ask that this continues most enthusiastically as we develop further the activities of the choir and embark upon serious decisions regarding the maintenance and restoration of our historic organ.

Alan Childs

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St Mary’s Choir RSCM Report

Year to 31st December 2004 

Members of all sections of the choir enjoyed another tremendously busy year of  singing engagements, some involving travelling significant distances to fly the flag of St Mary’s, and to experience the spiritual food of cathedrals and churches across the country, as well as at St Mary’s itself. 

 

Regional events (St Albans, Bedford and Hertford area)

St Mary’s Hitchin played host in March to one of three area rehearsals, directed by Chris Muhley, for the biennial Diocesan Choirs Festival, welcoming approx 80 singers from Beds, Herts and Essex, who were offered refreshments beforehand in Church House by choristers’ parents.

A large proportion of the Choir participated in the Diocesan Choirs Festival in St Albans Abbey in May, directed by Andrew Lucas, during which William was presented with his Dean’s and Bishop’s Award certificates.

In October, Ben, Ryan and members of the back row took part in the 2004 RSCM regional evensong at Ampthill Parish Church.  

 

Southern Cathedral Singers

Increased back row participation now means that St Mary’s sends choristers not only to the Boys and Men’s sectional events but also to the Girls’ and Adults’ section. There were participants from St Mary’s at each of the following:

February included a visit to Surrey to sing evensong in Guildford Cathedral

March saw some of us travel to Coventry Cathedral where the service was conducted by Peterborough’s Director of Music designate Andrew Reid.

The boys and men filled a traditional engagement at Chelmsford Cathedral for evensong in early April.

On Easter Monday, William joined nationwide trebles for a special service in Gloucester Cathedral.

Later in April, several choristers travelled by train to London to rehearse in St Margaret’s Westminster before singing evensong in Westminster Abbey, also under Andrew Reid’s direction.

 On Bank Holiday Monday 31 May another long distance trip saw Judy Martin, former SCS Director, and currently Director of Music at Christchurch Cathedral Dublin, conduct some of us in an evensong at Portsmouth Cathedral.

In June we travelled by train to Beckenham Parish Church to sing as part of a local festival.

A major event was the trip to Wiltshire for the RSCM’s special invitation Celebration Day evensong in Salisbury Cathedral, conducted by soon to be Millennium Youth Choir Director David Ogden.

Following the summer break, the SCS resumed with a September evensong at St Edmundsbury Cathedral.

We were also all auditioned for future events at a September visit to Bishops Stortford College, and achieved some very encouraging grades.

We travelled by train and strolled through Borough Market before singing beside the Thames in Southwark Cathedral in October.

Peterborough Cathedral was the venue for the girls and adults evensong in November.

Advent was heralded with a traditional carol service at  a contender for England's longest parish church, Rothwell, on a cold November day.

Several of the choir donned cassock and surplice at Gatwick Airport before Christmas to assist the RSCM’s annual charity carol singing along moving escalators and in shuttle trains, raising over £200.   

Students  

Jeremy Smith continued to participate in various events as a chorister of the Millennium Youth Choir.

Some of the young back row attended a late August weekday evensong in Peterborough Cathedral.

Some of the same students ventured into Gloucestershire to commemorate a festival at the ancient Priory church of St Swithun, Leonard Stanley.

 

Residential Courses

The 2004 Easter course took place at a new venue, Worksop College, and included a Friday evensong visit to Lincoln Cathedral. This was attended by Aidan, William, Thomas and Peter.

The popular summer course at Kingswood School, Bath again took place, directed by Geoff Weaver, and attended by William, Thomas, Jeremy and Alastair. This included sung services in Bath Abbey.

Peter, Alastair and Ed all attended the week long summer cathedral course (girls and adults section) held at Salisbury Cathedral, directed by John Wardle. The tower climb proved a major challenge! Accommodation was provided in Sarum College, recently announced to be the future home of the RSCM.

Examinations

Alan Childs has been busy coaching various candidates this year and achieved well deserved success with Hamish and Thomas attaining their Dean’s Awards, and Aidan, William and Helen (the first diocesan alto to do so) passing the Bishop’s Award standard. 

Our Golden Event

Last but definitely not least, the whole of St Mary’s joined in celebrating the choir’s 50th anniversary of continuous RSCM affiliation at a special weekend in October, when ex Head Chorister and renowned musician Iain Farringdon put on a sparkling lunchtime recital. We were joined a day later by VIPs, regional RSCM officials and many former choristers at our celebration evensong, conducted by RSCM Director John Wardle, and treated to a feast to remember at  the choristers’ reunion which followed!

Ed Kisby