Calling all choristers!
Have you been dreaming about live choral singing during the last 12 months? We certainly have, and we are excitedly anticipating a ‘normal’ season of liturgies and musical offerings for the 2021-2022 choir year!
What kind of singing opportunities do we have? There are many indeed! Here is a brief layout:
Singers of all ability levels will enjoy participating in the Saint Philip’s Singers, a choir that emphasizes familiar repertoire and vocal preparation while singing at four Sunday services per month. Practices take place on Thursday nights.
The Canterbury Choir sings more challenging repertoire and rehearses at a brisk tempo. It’s a great choice for singers wanting a substantial choral experience while participating in four Sunday services per month. Practices take place on Thursday nights. Auditions are required.
The Combined Adult Choirs (Saint Philip’s Singers and Canterbury Choir) rehearse together each week to prepare a larger choral work for Sunday services on the first Sunday of each month. The ‘First Sunday Music’ cycle is an exciting and anticipated part of the choral tradition at Saint Philip’s. This year, we anticipate the premiere of a new mass setting, commissioned by Corky Gabbert and the Friends of Music, by the Latvian composer Eriks Ešenvalds, on All Saints’ Sunday, November 7. Practices take place on Thursday nights.
The Saint Nicholas Choir includes both boys and girls from an early age to voice change for boys and until high-school graduation for girls. We incorporate the Voice for Life curriculum from the Royal School of Church Music into our training. This youth choir sings at several liturgies each month. Practices take place on Wednesday nights. Our more advanced choristers often get to participate in RSCM summer courses.
Once per month, the Schola Cantorum (composed largely of Canterbury chorister and community members) join the Saint Nicholas Choir to sing Choral Evensong on Third Sundays at 4:30 PM. Practices take place on Second Sundays and just prior to Evensong.
Every three years, our Saint Nicholas Choir and Schola Cantorum plan a weeklong Choral Residency to a cathedral in the UK. Previous residencies include Worcester Cathedral (2016) and Ely Cathedral (2019). The next residency is scheduled for Wells Cathedral in 2022. We still need basses and tenors for this project.
Have you thought about singing in a choir, perhaps for the first time? Are you keen to share your vocal skills with other talented musicians? Are you looking for an exciting and free musical opportunity for your youth? Do you want to join a lively and committed Saint Philip's community? If so, please contact our Director of Music, Justin Appel (justin.appel@stphilipstucson.org), or our Associate Director of Music, Dr. Jeffrey Campbell (jeffrey.campbell@gmail.com). We will be happy to discuss various options with you and find the right place for you in the program!