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The well-respected Choir of St Mary’s Attleborough is a friendly and lively group of amateur singers who meet to enjoy and share the gift of music in the service of the Church.
The Choir is made up of about twenty men, women and children of a wide range of ages. We sing at the Parish Eucharist every Sunday morning, at Choral Evensong one Sunday a month, and at special weekday evening and Sunday afternoon services for the feasts of the Christian year. The Choir learns and rehearses music every Friday evening and has a short practice before all choral services. We take a holiday every August and in the week following Easter and Christmas. We are affiliated to The Royal School of Church Music. What do we sing? A choir at a church like St Mary’s has two major roles. The first is to lead the worshipping congregation. The whole congregation joins together in song and the Choir supports and enhances this worship. The Choir’s second role is to provide further music for the glory of God and for the people to listen to. This includes anthems, motets, and settings of the canticles and the Mass. The music at St Mary’s is carefully selected from about five hundred years’ worth of sacred music. We sing pieces which are simple but effective, as well as works which are more complex and challenging, including Mass settings by Haydn and Mozart. We also give concerts and take music to care homes. Where do we sing? The Choir sings at St Mary’s Church, the magnificent Grade I listed parish church at the heart of the growing market town of Attleborough. There is plenty of car parking space near the church. The Choir also frequently sings away from St Mary’s. In recent years the Choir has sung Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Pembroke College Cambridge and the cathedrals at Southwark, Peterborough, Bury St Edmunds, Hereford and Ripon. Lately we have sung at Norwich Cathedral several times a year. Is it just singing? You can just sing if you want to – but St Mary’s Choir also enjoys a warm and supportive social life with regular meals, pub trips and so on for those who wish to take part. Who can join? The Choir always welcomes new members. There is no audition for adults or children, no fees to pay and you don’t have to be able to read music when you join us! You just need to enjoy making music, be willing to have fun and do your best, and be reliable and committed. The Director of Music is always delighted to hear from anyone interested in singing with us. Can my child sing? Boys and girls from the age of 6 upwards are welcome in St Mary’s Choir. They sing with the adults about twice a month on Sunday mornings, and occasionally at other times during the year. The timetable of commitments is always published well in advance. The children practise together for an hour or so (depending on their age) on a Friday evening. They learn the basics of reading music and performing in public, discover a range of music from six centuries and make lots of friends! Who's who? Our Director of Music, Ben Miller, has been at St Mary's since Epiphany 2016. He is assisted with the musical life of St Mary's by our Assistant Director of Music, Nigel Waring. Get in touch If you’d like to know more, or want an informal chat, get in touch with the Director of Music, Ben Miller, by email. The current music list is available by clicking the button at the bottom of the home page |
A sample of our repertoire, from Holy Week 2017
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