CHOIR

The Choir at Blackburn Cathedral October 2022

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ST. OSWALD’S CHOIR

The Choir of St Oswald’s Malpas sings the weekly Sunday Parish Communion Service, monthly Sunday Evensongs in the summer months when there is no visiting choir. Additional services and choral concerts take place throughout the year – these include services in Holy Week, celebration services, and Advent and Christmas Carol Services.

The Choir has a good balance of Sopranos, Altos, Tenors and Basses of all ages non of whom have auditioned but just love singing and making a commitment to the regular services and Thursday Evening rehearsals. We always welcome new singers who ideally can read music, have a nice voice and would like to be part of this happy team of singers. If you are interested, just come along and meet us.

In 2022 the choir sang the Epiphany Eucharist in Chester Cathedral which included a performance of a Mass by Charles Gounod. The late Queen’s Jubilee was celebrated at St Oswald’s in a special service and the choir sang music from the Coronation as well as a new work ‘I will lift up mine eyes’ by the Director of Music, Stewart Smith. In June, a large service was held for the induction of the new Rector, Dr Janine Arnott. The summer term concluded with the choir singing Evensong in the Lady Chapel of Liverpool Cathedral for which the Organist was Henry Smith. The triumphant sound of the Canticles in C by Charles Villiers Stanford was filled the magnificent Lady Chapel at Liverpool.

Another away-day took the Choir to Blackburn Cathedral to sing Evensong in October. This building has one of the finest acoustics in the country so, for the choir, singing in such a magnificent building was a real privilege. Included in the music was the setting of the Canticles in Bb by Stanford, and the anthem, O sing joyfully by Batten. In November we sang Evensong for All Souls then the annual service of Remembrance was held at St Oswald’s and the choir sang ‘Mother of God here I stand’ by Tavener. November ended with the Advent procession and Carol Service by candlelight which rounded off our first Christmas tree Festival weekend. The build up to Christmas was heralded by the Christmas Carol Service on Sunday December 18^th.