The Senior Choir at Christ Church is the primary musical leader for all liturgies. We sing for the 10:00 a.m. liturgy of the Holy Eucharist every Sunday from mid-September through mid-June, with a Sunday off here and there. Each Sunday morning, we meet at 9:15 a.m. in the Choir Room for a warm-up rehearsal. At 10:00 a.m. we lead the congregation in singing of the hymns, music of the Ordinary of the Mass, the Psalm, and usually several anthems. It is a large musical responsibility, but one that we all enjoy. Following the liturgy, we take time to socialize with the rest of the Parish family at Coffee Hour, and then back to the Choir Room for another rehearsal at 11:30 a.m.
Our repertoire spans the centuries - from early Renaissance to Mozart; Bach to Brahms; Britten to Stravinsky. We sing in most every western language. Mostly, we sing because of our shared love of music and our desire to share our gifts together. We have ended the 4th year of a 10-year cycle to present each of the evening canticle settings of Herbert Howells during our twice yearly full choir Evensongs. So far, we've presented "Collegium Regale," "Gloucester," "St. Paul's," and "B Minor (Westminster)," "Magdalen College," "Sarum" and "Worcester."
In August of 2005, we traveled to Chichester Cathedral, UK, for our first-ever residency. There for five days, we sang Choral Evensong everyday, concluding our trip with Mattins and Choral Eucharist at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. (To inquire about our recording of this tour, please send an email to music@christchurchpelham.org.) In August 2008, we will undertake a similar residency at Bristol Cathedral. We also sang Solemn Evensong and Benediction at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, NYC, on Trinity Sunday 2006.
We are allied with the Royal School of Church Music in America , and follow their curriculum, "Voice for Life." Currently, the Senior Choir consists of 24 members. Five of our members are professional section leaders. We are always on the lookout for enthusiastic and eager new members. If you are interested in membership, please contact the Organist and Choirmaster, at the church, 914-738-5515,x102, or via email, music@christchurchpelham.org
To see pictures from our August 2005 Residency at Chichester Cathedral, UK, please click HERE.
Members: To download our yearly schedule in PDF format, please click HERE.
