St Wilfrid’s Church Choir plays an important part in the life and worship of the Parish. It is a robed choir, which sings every Sunday Morning at the Sung Eucharist Service and at Choral Evensong on the second Sunday of each month (except August). In addition, it also takes part in Sung Eucharists on Festival Days such as Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Ascension Day, as well as Weddings and Funerals when required.

The music we sing is largely traditional with wider use of worship songs at the Family Services on the third Sunday of each month. Although the hymn book currently in use is ‘Hymns Old and New’ published by Kevin Mayhew, the Choir takes the music from the English Hymnal if the original harmony is preferred. The psalms are usually sung to Anglican Chant but we are now introducing Responsorial Psalms on a regular basis.

The Choir sings an anthem during Communion at also at Choral Evensong. In October 2004 the Choir sang Evensong in Chichester Cathedral.

Choir Practice is held every Friday evening (except during school holidays) from 5.30 – 7.00pm. We are fortunate in having a Director of Music and an Organist, so that for the first part of the practice, the Junior and Senior Choirs work separately coming together in Church for the last hour.

The Choir consists of 34 Choristers (including the Director of Music and Organist) and is made up of 18 Trebles/Sopranos (14 of whom are under 18 years of age) 2 Altos, 1 Counter Tenor, 6 Tenors and 6 Basses. We currently have vacancies for 2 Altos.

The Choir is affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music and members of the Junior Choir are encouraged to follow its Training Scheme. Choristers under the age of 18 are eligible to enter the locally awarded Dean’s and Bishop’s Awards (Chichester Diocese). Candidates work to a required syllabus and are then examined by a Diocesan Appointed Examiner. For some years now, members of our Choir have entered for these examinations, which are held twice a year.

Current membership of the Choir shows four Dean’s Choristers and one Bishop’s Chorister, plus one who gained the Junior St Cecilia’s Award and one with the adult St Cecilia’s Award which was awarded by the RSCM. The RSCM have introduced a new award scheme available to both junior and adult choristers. We also have one adult chorister with the RSCM Silver Award and one adult chorister with the RSCM Gold Award, the highest award available.

At various times of the year, all members of the Choir attend courses run by the RSCM. These enable them to gain expertise and widen their repertoire. Two adult members of the choir have attended 2/3 day courses and several have attended evening and day trainings. A large proportion of the Choir take part in the Annual RSCM Festival held at Chichester Cathedral. The generosity of the Parochial Church Council makes attendance at courses possible by paying the course fees either whole or in part.

In addition to this, the Choir presents a concert approximately every eighteen months where it sings music that is very different from that which is sung on a Sunday!

For further information contact:

Choir Trainer: Jamie Gater tel: 01243 842949                    Junior Choir: Alison McCaffrey Tel: 01243 824379     

 

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