Music News April 2019

Recently the Rector was able to present Alex with her surplice, Isobel, Patricia, Harry, James and Hayden with their light blue ribbons whilst Charlotte, Tabby, Eden and Peter received their red ribbons.  I think it has been quite some time since so many awards were made in one service!  Sadly both Emily (surplice) and Noah (red ribbon) were unwell, so they will be getting their awards shortly.

The Junior Choir had an outing to the Museum at the Scott Polar Institute in Cambridge on 2nd March which included attending Evensong at Kings College Chapel.
 
At the SMMA AGM at the beginning of March members heard the Chairman and Director of Music deliver reports giving details of the events held during the past year. The Chairman remarked that the SMMA exists to support the work of the Director of Music and to seek to develop the musical potential of our young people. The launch of the new organ scholar scheme, named in memory of Michael Swindlehurst marked a major financial commitment for the SMMA which it is hoped will continue for many years to come. The SMMA continued to fund vocal training sessions for our Choral Scholars and awarded an annual music Bursary, this year held by Eleanor Game. The SMMA also funds Joyful Noise. It continues to pay for for new music to further extend choir repertoire, and pays for the training materials and awards used by the juniors undertaking the RSCM Voice for life training. The SMMA has also subsidized travel on visits for under 18s.

Events mentioned included the Good Friday Devotional Offering of Fauré’s Requiem, and a programme of eight lunchtime concerts and four organ recitals, and the annual cathedral visit – this time to Guildford Cathedral. There had been a Come and Sing afternoon in early June when choir members and visiting singers worked on the Duruffle Requiem. The preacher at the annual SMMA Festal Evensong had been David Sheppard – father of a former choir member and now an ordained priest.

The brass group had played at services at Easter and Christmas and had played in the market square during La Fete de la Musique and at the Rectory Garden Party at Debden.

There had been an ordination service held here at St Mary’s at which the choir had sung and on Remembrance Day there had been a Devotional Offering to commemorate the ending of the First World war. The usual Carol Services for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany had all been well attended.

Thanks were given to everyone who had worked to ensure that all these events had taken place.

Bron Ferland was re-elected as Chairman, Jim Butler was re-elected as Publicity Officer and Hannah Razzell was elected to the Committee.

The Rector, as President, was thanked for his support for all the music innovations over the past years.

Bron Ferland
March 2019