Choristers

Introduction

Since the introduction of children to the choir of Little St Mary’s a decade ago, the Choristers have made a huge impact on the musical life of Little St Mary’s. Made up of up to 22 boys and girls, aged 7-16, the Choristers of LSM continue to go from strength to strength, and sing three or four services a month, often combining forces with the adult Parish Choir. As well as providing an excellent musical education, a strong team spirit is fostered among the group, and alongside their official commitments, regular social events are organized each term. There is no cost associated with becoming a Chorister, each Chorister is rewarded with pocket money for their attendance, and the church administers a bursary scheme to help with music lessons. These are just a few of the benefits of becoming a chorister at LSM: to learn more, please contact the Director of Music, , who is always pleased to hear from prospective choristers.

Rehearsals and services

The Choristers rehearse every Friday during school term, from 17:30 to 19:00. They sing with the Parish Choir at High Mass on the first and third Sundays of each month, and sing at Evensong and Benediction on the second Sunday. The youngest members of the choir often attend Children's Group with the other children in the parish; the older members of the Choir form an active teen/youth group, participating in various church and social activities throughout the year.

Repertoire

The Choir's repertoire consists of much of the main-stream choral music sung by the Parish Choir, including a number of Mass and Canticle settings (Howells "Coll Reg" Mass, Darke's Masses in E and in F, Byrd's four part Mass, as well as evening canticles by Brewer, Hylton-Stewart, Walford Davies, and Dyson); they also sing numerous anthems for all seasons of the church year (by composers as diverse as Howells, Tallis, Franck, Palestrina, and Healey Willan). The Choristers also perform their own repertoire of music for upper voices, both anthems and canticles, which includes soprano arias by Bach and Handel, as well as the more traditional treble-only choral music. The Choristers are also taught, and become very familiar with, the liturgical repertoire of plainsong (from simple psalm tones to melismatic antiphons and mass settings), and of course they learn and live the liturgical customary of the church.

External appearances

As well as singing at LSM every month, the Choristers (together with the Parish Choir) have sung Evensong at various cathedrals, recently including Ely, Peterborough, Norwich, and St Edmundsbury. The Choristers have also sung services in Selwyn abd Trinity College Chapels, and have participated in the RSCM's annual Diocesan services in King's College. They have sung on tour in Rome and in Brussels. They have performed "Jonah Man Jazz" on more than one occasion, and have also sung in the chorus of a fully-staged production of Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta "Trial by Jury".

Voice for Life Scheme

All Choristers are enrolled in the RSCM's "Voice for Life" scheme, and are annually tested for their ribbons (light blue, dark blue, red, purple). Once Choir members are experienced enough, they are prepared for the Dean's and Bishop's awards, for which examinations take place every year at Ely Cathedral. For these awards, choir members are trained in small groups in skills such as singing technique, sight-reading, ear-tests, and in the details and background of the liturgy.

As well as the wonderful musical and social opportunities outlined above, Choristers at LSM learn invaluable skills by singing in this Choir: self-discipline, time-management, and organisational techniques are all part of the training that Choristers receive.

More information

The Director of Music is always pleased to meet prospective choristers. If you think your child might be interested in becoming a Chorister at LSM, please contact Simon Jackson to arrange for a friendly, informal voice trial.