MUSIC
Stamford’s Children’s Choir at All Saints’ Church PHOTOS: PIP WARTERS www.acelensman.com
Nicholas Rudd-Jones learnt about a singing group that is going from strength to strength
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TAMFORD’S children’s choir at All Saints’ Church was re-launched two years ago, and has grown steadily to thirteen members, aged between 7 and 12 years old. The choir is kept busy with regular commitments and special events. In September alone they were singing at a wedding, a Pets’ Service, and on Battle of Britain Sunday to a packed church of RAF personnel. Occasionally the children are joined by the All Saints’ adult choir, filling the choir stalls and delighting the congregation as they perform together. The adult choir also sings with them at other large scale services throughout the year including the Civic Service, Nine Lessons and Carols, etc. The choir is a traditional, robed, Anglican Parish Church Choir; it sings sacred music, and is affiliated to the Royal School of Church
Music, the national body for church choirs. The repertoire includes many genres of music: traditional anthems and sacred songs (Bach, Tchaikovsky, Parry and plainsong, etc.), Sprituals and Gospel Songs (Amazing Grace is a favourite of the choristers themselves), and even songs from the shows that can be repurposed for worship (West Side Story and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat). The children rehearse every Friday from 6-7 pm under the supervision of the Choir Director, Fergus Black. There are usually two or three services and concerts a month plus periodic requests to sing at weddings. The choir is FREE to join and FREE to belong to. Choristers also receive FREE tuition toward the national Voice for Life Training Scheme, which leads to the award of choir medals on
All Saints’ Choir highlights! • Joint Songs of Praise (July 2015). The children joined the adult choir at a Songs of Praise. • Informal Concert (Oct 2015) (and paper aeroplane-making workshop) - because the choir that plays together stays together! • Competition Success at the Peterborough Music Festival March 2016 The choir was awarded the Elizabeth Henderson Memorial Trophy on the final day of the Peterborough Music Festival. The Adjudicator commended both their appearance in their smart blue cassocks and their musical skills: “Lovely sustained phrasing. Spot on note and word starts and endings and lovely intonation as well.” • Stamford Music Competition (June 2016) The church hosted the first Stamford Music Competition, adjudicated by Steven Grahl, the Director of Music at Peterborough Cathedral. Seventy-five young performers, (including six members of the choir) took part in seven classes throughout the day. • First Choral Evensong (June 2016) This service was a favourite with some of the children, and of their conductor! It was held at St. John’s for his feast day. Fergus explains: “I saw this service as a milestone. If you do singing exams, then Grade 1 has four songs, which in total last about 5 minutes. Choral Evensong is extended: there is more than 20 minutes of music: hymns, psalm, responses, canticles and so on, so it requires skill and dedication to learn and perform. Evensong is one of the glories of Anglican Church Music, and I was delighted that they did so well without any adult help.” • Making the Sun come out (July 2016) Fun with Faith Day- a day of celebration at the Recreation Ground, singing selections from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The children took the credit for a change in the weather: it was raining when they started, and sunny when they finished – and great fun throughout!
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different coloured ribbons reflecting their level of expertise. The course helps young people develop their vocal skills, such as breathing and tone production, as well as reading music, and their knowledge of the choral repertoire. The children effectively receive FREE music lessons! The course is run by one of the church’s adult choir members, Karen Baza. The choir has recently lost two members: one to Peterborough Cathedral Choir, and another to the Purcell School of Music in London. “I am thrilled these children have chosen to further their education in music. It is gratifying to know that they will be able to apply what they have learnt as members of All Saints’ Choir, but unfortunately it does mean that we have to keep recruiting.” said Fergus.
If you think your children, grandchildren or a child you know would be interested in this free tuition and joining the All Saints’ choir please read on. Being in a church choir is a responsibility requiring regular attendance as well as developing new skills through practise. Christmas and Easter are important periods in a chorister’s year with a greater number of services. Contact Fergus Black, the Director of Music on 07843 058994, HYPERLINK “mailto:music@stamfordallsaints.org.uk” \o “mailto:music@stamfordallsaints.org.uk” music@stamfordallsaints.org.uk or look at the web site: www.stamfordallsaints.org.uk/ music/join.html