St Mary’s Singers

A QUICK UPDATE ON THE PALESTRINA FOUNDATION

Our choristers at St Mary’s Cathedral never have a dull moment! They are currently are as busy as ever as they prepare for new musical programs for each liturgy. This consists of managing different repertoire for every day, while also developing their overall technique, tone, and projection. We hope their voices are getting some rest after Eastertide and Pentecost-tide!

Thousands recently attended the divine liturgies over Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.

The Cathedral Choir had a packed repertoire, including marvellous works such as King John IV of Portugal’s Crux Fidelis, Elgar’s The Spirit of the Lord, Palestrina’s Missa O Sacrum Convivium, Durufle’s Ubi Caritas, Bruckner’s Christus Factus Est, Victoria’s Passion According to St John, Lotti’s magnificent Crucifixus for eight voices, Allegri’s Miserere Mei, Tallis’ Lamentations of Jeremiah, and the moving Tenebrae (Office of Readings) responses by Victoria.

Take a listen to a little piece of ‘Paschal pizzazz’, as Choir Director Thomas Wilson says, from the Solemn Mass of Easter Day: Kyrie from Messe Solennelle by Louis Vierne (1870–1937).

ST MARY’S SINGERS

Did you know?
If you have a voice and relish the opportunity to be part of a Cathedral choir, then perhaps the St Mary’s Singers are for you! The St Mary’s Singers is a non-auditioned choir of men and women of all ages and musical ability. The Singers recite Vespers and evening Mass on the second Saturday of every month, as well as at concerts and occasionally at other liturgies.

With weekly rehearsals and regular opportunities to sing in public, the St Mary’s Singers offer a welcoming environment for any singer with an interest in high-quality liturgical music and related repertoire.

St Mary’s Singers compliments the current music program at the Cathedral, alongside the positions of Cantor, Full Choir, Lay Clerks, Senior Choristers, Cathedral Scholars, and Junior Choristers.