The Choir
Christ Church has a long and distinguished musical history, with a choral tradition that stretches back to the mid-nineteenth century. The expectation of high-quality music is widely held in the parish, and the choir work tirelessly to achieve the high standards expected of those leading worship in the church. Under the leadership of our Director of Music, Michael Fulcher, the choir presents an exciting range of traditional English, Renaissance, and contemporary music, that glorifies God and stirs the soul.
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With your help we can sustain the rich choral and musical tradition of Christ Church. Donations over $2 are tax-deductible.
Thank you for your support!
The Parish Choir
With the encouragement of the then Vicar, William Guinness, a choir of the women and men of the Parish was formed in 1855.
In 1881, following the completion of the sanctuary and chancel, choir boys were introduced, and an all-male choir formed, in the English Cathedral Tradition, which then served the church for more than a hundred years. Women were welcomed back into this choir in the early 1980s.
The Parish Choir sings at the Choral Eucharist each Sunday at 10.00am, and Festal Choral Evensongs on the third Sunday of the month. Special services, concerts and other performances arise from time to time, such as Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral, College services, or concert and services in rural Victoria. Rehearsals are on Thursday nights between 7.30 and 9.30pm.
Repertoire
The Choir presents an exciting range of traditional English, Renaissance, and contemporary music, that glorifies God and stirs the soul. The Choir’s repertoire extends from different styles of chant to newly commissioned and composed works, sung in languages as diverse as Latin, Ancient Greek, Old Church Slavonic, Icelandic, French, German, and English. The standard English Cathedral and Collegiate repertoire more typically features at our Sunday worship, though the Choir particularly enjoys Iberian polyphony of such as Victoria and Guerrero and composers from Scandinavian and Baltic countries.
Joining the Choir
Membership of the Choir is open to anyone of any age with basic musical knowledge and the desire to perform to their best within the ensemble. Auditions can be arranged with the Director of Music.
While the tenets of Christianity inevitably pervade and inform all aspects of the Choir, membership is open to people of all faiths and none. Those with diverse backgrounds and experience are welcomed and celebrated amongst its members, and throughout the Parish.
Recordings
The Choir released a CD ‘Live Music at Christ Church South Yarra’ in 2015, and ‘Live Music at Christ Church South Yarra, Volume 2’ in 2016. Both CDs are available for purchase via the Parish Office.
Contact
Please contact the Director of Music, Michael Fulcher, for information or to arrange an addition.
Email music@ccsy.org.au Telephone 03 9866 4434
Support Our Programs
With your help we can sustain the rich artistic and cultural life at Christ Church. Donations over $2 are tax-deductible.
Thank you for your support!