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Less than a month into my new post, I'm already finding it a very rewarding experience in terms of the Choirs and their varied contributions to the worship here. The Congregational Choir have been mentioned recently in these pages; they are a tremendous asset to the Church's music, enabling us to cover a broader range of repertoire than might be possible with only one choir and enabling us to have Sung Services even when the Robed Choir is on holiday. I hope to develop the Congregational Choir over the coming months and years, with more new music, more frequent rehearsals (currently they meet every other Monday at 7pm) and more members - watch this space!
The Boys have coped remarkably well with the "regime change" - their singing at Choral Evensong on Sundays so far has been particularly memorable, and they are to be especially commended for having led that service on the own on 14th September. There are presently 13 of them, ranging in age from 7 to almost 15, bringing a wide range of musical experience together to produce the lovely sound that makes our choral tradition so distinctive and special.
The Boys rehearse on Wednesday evenings for an hour from 6.30pm, and on Friday evenings from 6.30pm to 8pm, joining with the Choir Men from 7pm. They sing for two of the Sunday services - Parish Communion at 10.00am and Evensong at 6.30pm.
For each rehearsal and service, the Boys receive a small fee which can add up to quite a lot of take-home pay each month! Fun and games can be had as well as hard work, for the Boys also have their very own Choir Club Room in the Kirkland Hall, which they use on Wednesday evenings after practice and on Sundays after the morning service. There are not many Choir Boys in this country who are lucky enough to have such a room, equipped with a pool table, computer games and Scalextric track!
As any Church Choir Director will tell you, time flies - and so, alas, do boys voices! Although the Boys are in good number and good voice at the moment, we always need to be on the lookout for new ones, to train alongside the existing team and gradually replace them as their voices change. I am planning to begin a recruitment drive throughout the local primary schools within the next few weeks, and I am always happy to hear from parents with musical sons who might like to audition for the Choir! The auditioning procedure is short and painless - I ask each boy to sing a short song for me (one that they know really well and enjoy singing) and also to do a few simple listening tests. Successful boys are invited to become Probationers, which means they will attend rehearsals and eventually join the Boys in services, before being presented with white surplices and becoming full members of the team! If you have, or know about, a musical boy, do get in touch with me.
Mark Swinton
STOP PRESS! Seven of the Boys have been successful in the recent examinations held by the Royal School of Church Music - Kyle Beaty, Adam Dewhurst, John Duff, Paul Heap and Declan Knowles have won the Bronze Award, whilst Adam Forrest and Stephen Heap have netted the Silver Award. Congratulations and well done to all of them! They will be presented with their medals at the RSCM Area Festival Service in Carlisle Cathedral on Saturday 4th October at 5pm.
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