Music at St. Nicholas’ church

Wells Cathedral July 2022

Choral Tradition  

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

We have eleven 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

Boy Head Choristers

Boys’ Head Chorister Jonathan retired on Easter Day 2025 after 8 years in the choir and nearly three years as Head Chorister.
Ben and Finlay were installed by the Rector as the new Head Choristers of the Boys’ Section in May 2025.

Cathedral Visits

We sing services at Cathedrals during breaks for the Cathedral Choirs.
Recent Cathedral trips –
2024 St Albans, St Albans
2023 St Albans, St Edmundsbury, Rochester
2022 St Albans, Wells, St Paul’s
2021 St Albans

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.

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-September-2025-copy

Click here to view previous Music Lists

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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