Music News - March 2025 

Early in January, the Junior Choir enjoyed a trip to Ely Cathedral, excellently organised by Alison Lawrence, to see the fabulous stained glass museum and to attend Choral Evensong. They funded this by running a successful cake stall, providing the double pleasures of food and an outing.

A highlight later in the month was the Festival of Light on 26 January. This new addition to the calendar of events included a wide variety of readings and music to celebrate Epiphany and the start of the new year. Feedback has been very positive, not only for the music “especially the quieter pieces”, but also for the opportunity for everyone to mingle afterwards with a glass of prosecco or ‘nosecco’. This has been a treat after recent Evensong services, and will become a feature, once Lent is over. We hope that as many as possible of the regular and occasional congregations will join for both the service and the refreshments.

The next Choral Evensong is at 4pm on Sunday 9 March, during Lent. No refreshments, but a musical feast and an opportunity for quiet contemplation.

Meanwhile, we are very pleased that Choral Scholar Stas has successfully auditioned for the SWCHS school chamber choir, where he joins our other talented scholars. Singing at St Mary’s is often a springboard to making music in the wider world, as well as excellent training in the multifarious skills required, including reading music, growing in faith, self discipline, learning foreign languages and teamwork.

There is a treat to look forward to on Saturday 22 March at 6pm when we welcome to St Mary’s the excellent choir of Gonville and Caius who will be performing Faure’s Requiem and other music. This performance is free, but as always donations will be gratefully received. These can be given in cash, or on the card reader, or by scanning the QR code on the programme.

Then it is the turn of our home-grown choir again, performing the SMMA’s Eastertide Devotional Offering. This year we, with the addition of 2 very talented soloists, shall be singing Stainer’s Crucifixion at 6.30pm on Palm Sunday 13 April. This will be followed by Choral Eucharist at 7.30pm on Maundy Thursday 17 April. Of course the choir and brass musicians will be supporting morning worship on Easter Sunday 20 April, followed by Choral Evensong at 6.30 that evening.

There is a lot of background work involved in running the SMMA, and we hear about this, as well as highlights of the year, from our Chairman Hannah Razzell and our Director Oli King at our AGM. Steve Cass also keeps us all up to speed on the finances. Preparations have started for this event, which is likely to be in May to ensure it follows the PCC’s AGM. Further details will be published when we have a fixed date, and everyone at St Mary’s is very welcome to attend. 

Ottilie Lefever 

Photos from Ely Cathedral by Alison Lawrence