Busy start to the year for Choristers with premieres and promotions
Having been back for pre-Term rehearsals before the School year began, our Choristers kicked off the new Choir year with a busy weekend, packed full of music old and new. Saturday 6th September saw the first Evensong with the Cathedral Choir after the summer holidays, featuring music by Smith, Stanford and Howells, and marked a chance to introduce our nine new Probationers who are just beginning their singing journey with us. During Evensong, the new Chorister “Senior Leadership Team” were presented with their medals – Alma K (Head Girl Chorister, Year 9), Ryan H (Head Boy Chorister, Year 9), Clemmie AC (Deputy Head Girl Chorister, Year 9), Kukhanya M (Deputy Head Boy Chorister, Year 9) and Jemima A (Tudway Quilter Chorister, Year 9). Five of our Choristers – Teddy W (Year 4), Monty K-B (Year 5), Grace DM (Year 5), Rowan W (Year 6) and Austin W (Year 8) – received their surplices, having completed their Probationary periods.
Sunday 7th September was another full day for the Choir, with a premiere of a pair of works by the Cathedral’s Director of Music, Timothy Parsons. His new motet, The Shekinah, featured text describing a Hebrew concept of God’s presence in the world, and it and it’s accompanying mass setting were performed by all of the Choristers and the Vicars Choral at the morning’s Cathedral Eucharist. After refuelling with brunch at School, the Boy Choristers went on to sing Evensong, with music by English composer Henry Purcell.
In the weeks since, the Choristers have resumed their usual schedule of rehearsals and services as part of their work contributing to the daily worshipping life of the Cathedral. On Thursday 11th September, the Girl Choristers sang music by Howells and Gibbons under the direction of David Hill MBE, formerly Director of Music at Westminster and Winchester Cathedrals. There is much to look forward to in the coming weeks, with the annual Chorister Camp-Out in the Cathedral, trips to sing in Bath Abbey and Stogumber Parish Church, and the Senior Choristers broadcasting live on BBC Radio 3 (Wednesday 15th October), including the entirety of the Psalm 78, as appointed for the 15th evening of the month – tune in from 3pm to hear them in action!
Sunday 7th September was another full day for the Choir, with a premiere of a pair of works by the Cathedral’s Director of Music, Timothy Parsons. His new motet, The Shekinah, featured text describing a Hebrew concept of God’s presence in the world, and it and it’s accompanying mass setting were performed by all of the Choristers and the Vicars Choral at the morning’s Cathedral Eucharist. After refuelling with brunch at School, the Boy Choristers went on to sing Evensong, with music by English composer Henry Purcell.
In the weeks since, the Choristers have resumed their usual schedule of rehearsals and services as part of their work contributing to the daily worshipping life of the Cathedral. On Thursday 11th September, the Girl Choristers sang music by Howells and Gibbons under the direction of David Hill MBE, formerly Director of Music at Westminster and Winchester Cathedrals. There is much to look forward to in the coming weeks, with the annual Chorister Camp-Out in the Cathedral, trips to sing in Bath Abbey and Stogumber Parish Church, and the Senior Choristers broadcasting live on BBC Radio 3 (Wednesday 15th October), including the entirety of the Psalm 78, as appointed for the 15th evening of the month – tune in from 3pm to hear them in action!
