There are a number of opportunities to sing in a choir or vocal group at the Cathedral, including some that are suited to those with little or no previous choral experience, ranging through to the advanced-level Cathedral Choir. Each group has a different time commitment: the Cathedral Choir meets twice a week or more (and as often as daily during Holy Week); the other choirs have lighter schedules so they may be easier to fit within your routine.
Taizé Choir | St. Brigid's Choir | Instrumental Group
Compline Choir | Choral Evensong Choir | The Cathedral Choir
NEW: Taizé Choir (Sundays@4)
Schedule: Services approximately once a month, rehearsal at 3pm for the 4pm Sunday service (ends by 4.45pm).
Level: New recruits to intermediate.
Recommended skills/experience: Some experience of singing simple music in multiple voice parts (2-, 3-, or 4-part) and some comfort in reading musical notation.
Repertoire styles: Taizé music, which is charmingly simple, melodic, and repeated in the style of a mantra.
Joining Dates: Any time.
Joining Process: Email the Director of Music to receive the upcoming service and rehearsal schedule, and to arrange an informal voice check. Information on what to prepare for the voice check will be provided by email.
NEW: St Brigid’s Choir (1.30pm Eucharist on Sundays)
Schedule: Weekly pre-service warm-up on Sundays at 1.15pm, and service at 1.30pm (ends by 2.45pm).
Level: New recruits to intermediate.
Recommended skills/experience: A good musical ear and sense of rhythm.
Repertoire styles: Multiple styles and languages, with an emphasis on unaccompanied music taught by ear, including Taizé, Iona, Music that Makes Community, and other similar styles as found in the Anglican Church of Canada’s hymn supplement Sing a New Creation (2022).
Joining Dates: Any time.
Joining Process: Email the Director of Music to receive the upcoming service and rehearsal schedule, and to arrange an informal voice check. Information on what to prepare for the voice check will be provided by email.
NEW: Sundays@4 Instrumental Group
Schedule: Sunday rehearsals at 3pm for the 4pm Sundays@4 services (generally for Taizé and/or Holden Evening Prayer). Stand-alone instrumental rehearsals may be arranged at other times as needed.
Level: Intermediate to advanced.
Instruments: Tuned instruments in Western/European tuning systems—strings, winds, guitar (and other plucked instruments, including harp), hand bells; percussion instruments of any cultural tradition suitable for inclusion in the style of the vocal music.
Recommended skills/experience: Experience of playing in instrumental ensembles; good music notation skills, and a strong ability to learn repertoire independently.
Repertoire styles: Taizé music, which is charmingly simple, melodic, and repeated in the style of a mantra.
Joining Dates: Any time.
Joining Process: Email the Director of Music to receive the upcoming service and rehearsal schedule, and to arrange an audition. Information on what to prepare will be provided by email.
Compline Choir (Sundays: 8pm)
Schedule: We rotate weekly between high voices (SA) and low voices, (TB) with all voices together on major festivals (SATB). On average, each group sings two or three times a month. Rehearsals are on Sundays at 7pm for the 8pm service (ends by 8.45pm).
Level: Intermediate to advanced.
Recommended skills/experience: Previous choral experience in classical repertoire styles is required, and good music notation reading skills; comfort in learning and performing repertoire quickly.
Repertoire styles: Plainchant (Gregorian Chant) and unaccompanied polyphonic repertoire including Palestrina, Byrd, and Lassus, as well as more recently compositions.
Joining Dates: Any time.
Joining Process: Email the Director of Music to receive the upcoming service and rehearsal schedule, and to arrange an audition. Information on what to prepare for the audition will be provided by email.
The Cathedral Choir (Sundays: 10.30am)
Schedule: Rehearsals on Thursdays 7.30-9.30pm, and Sunday rehearsal at 9.30am for the 10.30am service. Extra services for Principal Feasts (some of which fall on other days of the week), including Christmas (Dec 24 and 25), Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, and others. Many members of the Cathedral Choir also sing Choral Evensong and/or Compline, although this is not required.
Level: Intermediate to Advanced.
Recommended skills/experience: Previous choral experience (any style) is required, and good music notation reading skills; comfort in learning and performing repertoire quickly.
Repertoire styles: We sing a very broad range of repertoire in many languages and styles. The primary character is “Anglican Cathedral style” from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Joining Dates: September; January; Easter Season after Holy Week
Joining Process: Email the Director of Music to schedule an audition. Information on what to prepare for the audition will be provided by email.
Choral Evensong Choir (Sundays: 4pm)
Schedule: 3pm Sunday rehearsal for the 4pm service monthly. Individual learning at home is required of those who are not also members of the Cathedral Choir. Because many Cathedral Choir members sing Choral Evensong, some rehearsal time on Thursday evenings is devoted to this repertoire. Choral Evensong Choir members are welcome to attend Thursday Cathedral Choir rehearsals if they are available, but it is not required.
Level: Advanced
Recommended skills/experience: Previous Anglican choral experience in classical repertoire styles is required, and excellent music notation reading skills; comfort in learning and performing repertoire quickly.
Repertoire styles: Traditional Anglican Cathedral.
Joining Dates: Any time.
Joining Process: Email the Director of Music to receive the upcoming service and rehearsal schedule, and to arrange an audition. Information on what to prepare for the audition will be provided by email.
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