Choir

St Martin’s has a traditional robed choir who sing a choral Eucharist with psalm (responsorial or chanted) and a communion motet at the 9.15am service. The choir also sings at Special Services and Feast Days throughout the church year, and at weddings and funerals by arrangement.

 

We are always pleased to welcome new choristers. There are no auditions to join the choir at St Martin’s as we believe that participation in the musical life of the church should be available to everyone. There is, however, an expectation of regular attendance at rehearsals as well as services. For those who are interested, there are programmes of study with the Royal School of Church Music for adult choristers to follow. For children interested in joining the choir we have a separate page with full details of our Junior Choir.

 

Rehearsals are held in Church on Thursday evenings: 

Children: 7.00pm to 8.30pm

Adults: 7.45pm to 9.15pm (9.30pm during Lent and Advent)

 

And on Sunday in the Bec Room before the service: 

Children: 8.30am

Adults: 8.45am

 

For weddings and funerals rehearsals are on the day of the service. For Special Services and Feast Days during the church year rehearsals take place half an hour before the start of the service.

 

Although no formal preparation is expected before Thursday practices it is helpful, at busy times like Holy Week and Christmas when large amounts of music have to be prepared, if you are able to listen to a recording of anything you are unfamiliar with before the rehearsal.

 

The choir is very welcoming, friendly and social and there are various parties and events organised throughout the year. These include trips to concerts, theatre and opera, and for the junior department (and those ‘young at heart’) trips to the cinema, theme parks and other social events.

 

If you are interested in joining the church choir, our Director of Music can be contacted via the Parish Office.