Music at St. Nicholas’ church

Wells Cathedral July 2022

Choral Tradition  

Boys’ Choir has flourished since Victorian times and our Girls’ Choir was founded in 2009. 

We have seven Choral Scholars aged 15-18 and an Organ Scholar.  

Our excellent Adult Choir consists of talented Sopranos, Contraltos, Counter-Tenors, Tenors, Baritones and Basses. 

The choirs sing at 9.30 Sunday Eucharist and 6.30 Choral Evensong and on Feast Days. Music lists are below.

We are affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music

Contact : music@parishofharpenden.org

News

On Palm Sunday, 24 March 2024 we are preparing a service of readings and music for the start of Holy week, to include music by Tchaikovsky, Schutz, Bach, P:urcell, Leighton and Stainer.

On Sunday 25 February our adult singers, choral scholars and senior choristers sang for Choral Eucharist at St Albans Cathedral, and the Full Choirs including girls, boys, scholars and adults sang for Choral Evensong.
Music included
Byrd: Ave Verum Corpus, Mass for Four Voices and Responses
Leighton: Solus ad Victimam
Dyson: Canticles in F
(with superb solos by Jonathan, our Head Chorister and Theo, Choral Scholar)
Chris Muhley was the Organist.

On Saturday 25 November we sang Evensong at Rochester Cathedral.
Music included –
Introit – Let all mortal flesh keep silence by Bairstow
Responses – Smith 5 part
Setting – Wood in Eb no 2
Anthem – O thou the central orb by Wood

Our recent Cathedral trips –
2023 St Albans, St Edmundsbury, Rochester
2022 St Albans, Wells, St Paul’s

Rochester Cathedral November 2023

St Edmundsbury Cathedral September 2023

Join us

Boys and Girls may join the choirs from the age of 7 and receive free musical and singing training, pocket money for attending, and fees for singing at Weddings! We currently have vacancies for boys and a waiting list for girls.

Choristers move on to the adult section from about age 14 or when their voice changes.
The boys and girls rehearse and sing services both separately and together, with and without the adult choir.

There are no auditions for the junior choirs as children will learn ‘on the job’, but to join the adult section you will need to be able to read music competently.  More details about the choir, including how to join, are available from the Director of Music or you can download our recruitment document. We currently have vacancies for boys and a waiting list for girls.

We offer Choral Scholarships (by audition) to excellent singers/musicians aged 15 to 18.  These are worth £50 to £100 per term depending on attendance.  Contact the Director of Music to apply or for more details.

St Paul’s Cathedral August 2022

Musicians

Marie Price joined us as Director of Music in 2018.

Our Organists are Chris Muhley and Hannah Gill

Our Organ Scholar is Ivo McGrandle

Music Lists

Music-monthly-merge-MARCH-2024-revised

Music Group and Orchestra

We have a Music Group who lead the worship at the 11.30 Morning Praise service every week.

If you are interested in joining the Music Group, contact the Director of Music who will connect you to the relevant people.

Organists and Directors of Music have included :

CB Kaye (around 1886)
ER Billingham (1897-1933)
HEW Sanders (1933-1940)
Connie Hogan (1940-1942)
J Loggie (1942-1943)
Stanley Bennett (1943-1944)
Stanley Milnes (1945-1970)
Victor Bowden and Mary Searby (1970-1972)
Michael Hammond (1972–75)
Robert Gower (1975-1976)
Charles Collins (1976–1981)
John Mower (1981-1983)
Norman Hurrle (1983)
Alan Boston (1983-1984)
Jonathan Walton (1984-1985)
Eric Pask (1985–2009)
Jonathan Eyre (2009–10)
Peter Hopkins (2011-2017)
Rob Bishop (2017-2018)
Alex Hall (2018-2019)

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