Music News October 2024 

The summer break ended convivially with lunch kindly hosted by Noel and Judith Starr. This followed a hastily and briefly (20 minutes) rehearsed service on 1 September, and reminded us how much fun as well as musical skills we all gain from belonging to the choir.

By the time this magazine is published, the SMMA Festal Evensong will have taken place on 8 September, and the Junior Choir with the children in Joyful Noise will have led the singing in the Harvest Family Service on 22 September. Meanwhile we shall have supported an evening recital of poetry, opera and lieder on the theme of “Love and Loss”, with poetry read by Edward Gildea and songs performed by Iestyn Edwards.

SWCHS students are starring in 2 of the autumn series of Wednesday morning coffee concerts on 25 September and 10 October. Choir soprano Karin Fischer-Buder is singing on 2 October, and the season finishes with 2 organ concerts: Thomas Hawkes on 16 October and former Michael Swindlehurst Organ Scholar Elliot Randall on 23 October. Refreshments are available from 10.45 am before the 40 minute concerts start at 11.30. 

Once again the SMMA is delighted to be creating an outreach event for primary school children on 4 October. These are always tremendous fun, albeit exhausting for the energetic souls who organise and run them. A pantomime theme is rumoured. Oh no it isn’t! 

In addition to regularly supporting worship in St Mary’s, the choir aims to sing Choral Evensong in a cathedral every year. This tradition had to be paused during Covid, but last year there was a very successful and enjoyable trip to Birmingham, hosted by Jenny and David Tomlinson. This year we shall be going to Norwich Cathedral on Saturday 19 October. There will be a coach to Norwich and supporters will be very welcome. 

The next Choral Evensong in St Mary’s will be at 6.30pm on Sunday 13 October. 

So now it’s back to choir practice not only for regular Sunday worship, Festal Evensong, and Norwich, but also planning ahead with rehearsals for Remembrance Day and even the Advent Carol Service. A busy season awaits.

Ottilie Lefever
Photograph of Choir Summer Gathering  by Hannah Razzell