Music at St Mary's

Choral Music

The choir of St Mary’s is a voluntary choir, augmented by a team of 4 paid choral scholars. The choir has an extensive repertoire ranging from early Renaissance to the present day. A typical Sunday Eucharist will usually consist of two anthems, a psalm sung to Anglican chant, hymns and a congregational mass setting. Choral Evensongs follow the Book of Common Prayer with sung canticles, psalms and anthem. Recent settings have included Stanford in G, Jackson Truro Service and Howells Collegium Regale. Concert repertoire has included Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem, Dieterich Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu nostri and Part 1 of Handel’s Messiah. The choir occasionally commissions a new piece of work, the most recent by the composer Simon Bainbridge.

The most recent music list can be viewed here: Music list May-June 2022.

Music making at St Mary’s is diverse, enjoyable and fulfilling, and the choir always welcomes new recruits. There’s no audition, but some experience of reading music is helpful. Enquiries to the Director of Music: [email protected].

Organ & Choral Scholarships

St Mary’s is pleased to offer an organ scholarship and four choral scholarships each academic year. These positions offer undergraduate and postgraduate students and singers the opportunity to explore new repertoire, improve their technique and broaden their musicianship.

We are currently seeking one alto choral scholar and one tenor choral scholar to start in September 2022. For more details please see: SMB – CHORAL Scholarships 2022-23.

Recital Programme

The Director of Music programmes two series of recitals, one in the winter from January to the beginning of Lent, and the other in the summer weeks, from July to early September. If you are interested in performing a recital or singing at St Mary’s as a choir, please make initial contact with Katy Silverman ([email protected]) who will be able to discuss possible dates and times.

The Organ

A 1991 Saxon Aldred instrument of 2 manuals with 27 stops, the organ of St Mary’s is an incredibly versatile instrument. The organ was refurbished and revoiced in 2020. The specification of the organ can be found here.

Enquiries

Any enquiries, including requests for rehearsal space from professional musicians, should be addressed to the Director of Music.