Choir Updates

Spring Update from the Choirmaster

March 13th, 2012

Nine Lessons and Carols at St Peter's Church, ParkstoneIt would be fair to say that 2011 had many remarkable memories that all of our choristers will hopefully treasure.

Our pilgrimage from Poole to Sherborne was a truly amazing experience and we met many fantastic people along the way.

All of the churches we sang at gave us an extremely warm welcome and it was great to see so many people attend the evenings in order to worship through Choral Evensong.

My personal memory of being offered a shower in a complete stranger’s house during our stay at Winterborne Whitechurch is certainly something I won’t forget in a long time. The feeling of utter reliance on other people’s hospitality is one that I think you may only find when on a journey of pilgrimage.
Pilgrimage to Sherborne 2011
Singing in Sherborne Abbey, and towards the end of the summer also in Salisbury Cathedral, was a huge achievement for us as a choir and certainly brought out some of the best singing we have done in recent times.

To cap off the year, Christmas 2011 had some of the most adventurous services undertaken in recent memory. From the giant stained glass windows that we produced as a backdrop to Carols by Candlelight at the beginning of December right through to the wonderful solos each of our junior choristers performed at Nine Lessons And Carols, there was never a dull moment in Advent! There were great moments from every single chorister, young and old, right through the Christmas period and it was really exciting seeing everyone stepping up to sing at different points.

One particular event of last year that also stuck in my mind was Elliott Beauchamp, our deputy head chorister achieving his Dean’s Award. Having never taken a musical exam before, it was particularly poignant to see Elliott achieve this as he works extremely hard in choir and will never shirk responsibility. Head Chorister Alex Wehlau also went on to achieve her Bishop’s Award with Merit, an achievement which also was long overdue given the amount of the work Alex puts in over the year.

Carols By Candlelight at St Peter's ParkstoneSo what of 2012? The beginning of the new year seems to have split into 2 main projects. The first has been a commitment to see as many of our choristers achieve the RSCM Dean’s Award. Last year, we had several new junior choristers join us. Together with other members of the choir who haven’t previously had the opportunity to take the award, they have joined up and all being well will be entering the exam at the end of April.

The second project is to record a CD. It has long been the idea to record the choir so that people can have access to some of the music we sing. We’ve already set about fundraising for the project and are hoping to record this in May/June. One of the tracks is being written to one of the Bishop of Sherborne’s poems specially for the recording. The CD should be finished and ready for sale in September of this year – just in time for Christmas!

Easter is also fast approaching and this year we’ll also be taking part in the 3rd Performance of the Poole Community Passion Play. Easter is always a beautiful time at church and there is something spectacular about the worship at 5am on Easter Sunday morning. As always, looking forward to it!

Richard McLester
Director of Music

 

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Christmas 2011 at St Peter’s, Parkstone!

December 2nd, 2011

Christmas 2011 at St Peter's ParkstoneChristmas is fast approaching – so a few dates for your diaries…

Sunday 4th December, 6.30pm:
Carols By Candlelight

Sunday 11th December, 12.30pm:
Carols for RNIB in Poole Dolphin Centre

Sunday 18th December, 6.30pm:
Nine Lessons & Carols

Saturday 24th December, 11.30pm:
Midnight Mass of Christmas

For the full list of services, carol singing & festive arrangements, download our Christmas Term Choir Newsletter by clicking here!

 

 

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2011 Choir Tour & Pilgrimage!

April 30th, 2011

St Peter's Parkstone Choir Pilgrimage to Sherborne AbbeyOne of the most exciting projects happening this year is our Choir Tour combined with a Youth Group Pilgrimage from St Peter’s to Sherborne Abbey.

On Sunday 7th August, we will leave at the end of the morning service and walk to Wimborne Minster to sing Choral Evensong. Each night of our 4 day pilgrimage, the choir will come out to join the youth group and sing Choral Evensong at a different church.

The youth group will then stay overnight at the church or nearby church hall before walking onto the next church en route before ending up at Sherborne Abbey for the evening of 10th August.

The dates and churches are as follows;

Sunday 7th August 10am: Depart St Peter’s Parkstone
Sunday 7th August 6.30pm: Wimborne Minster
Monday 8th August 6.30pm: Winterborne White Church
Tuesday 9th August 6.00pm: St Mary’s, Sturminster Newton
Wednesday 10th August 5.30pm: Sherborne Abbey

If you would like to join us, there are lots of opportunities to either help or just to come along and support. If you would be interested in joining the youth group, you can download the letter > here (St Peters Parkstone Choir Tour and Pilgrimage Letter.pdf).

If you also want to come and join us singing in some of these fantastic churches, you would be most welcome to. Contact us via our contact page here…

It’s going to be brilliant – look forward to seeing you over the summer!

 

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Nine Lessons & Carols 2010

December 10th, 2010

Nine Lessons And Carols Service 2010Next weekend is the 2nd of our big carol services – the traditional service of Nine Lessons And Carols.

The full listing of hymns, carols and anthems is available to download here: Nine Lessons And Carols 2010.pdf.

There will be a full choir rehearsal at 5.30pm and the service begins at 6.30pm. Look forward to wishing you a Merry Christmas there!

 

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Congratulations to Choristers!

October 17th, 2010

RSCM Examinations LogoA huge congratulations to both Elliott Beauchamp and Alex Wehlau for passing their latest RSCM exams!

Alex gained a merit in her Bishop’s Award and Elliott passed his Dean’s Award. Both put a lot of hard work in with extra sessions around choir practices over the last couple of months and thoroughly deserve to gain the awards. Well done!

Both of their names will be listed under Wessex on the Voice for Life Singing Awards website: http://www.rscm.com

 

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Hymn Sheet for Sunday 17th October 2010

October 16th, 2010

St Peter's Choir Hymn SheetThe Hymn Sheet for our 10am Morning Eucharist Sunday 17th October 2010 can be downloaded here: Sunday 17th October 2010.pdf.

This Sunday morning is particulary special because it is the Confirmation service so expect a good celebration!

There will be no evening service at St Peter’s on Sunday. Instead there is a youth service at PURC at 6.30pm organised and run by St Peter’s Youth group. All are warmly invited to attend.

Choral Evensong will resume again next Sunday evening at 6.30pm.

 

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Hymn Sheet for Sunday 10th October 2010

October 8th, 2010

St Peter's Choir Hymn SheetThe Hymn Sheet for our 10am Morning Eucharist Sunday 10th October 2010 can be downloaded here: Sunday 10th October 2010.pdf

There will be no evening service at St Peter’s on Sunday. Instead, there is a Harvest Celebration service at Parkstone United Reformed Church to which everyone is warmly invited to attend! This will take place at 3.00pm.

 

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Hymn Sheet for Sunday 3rd October 2010

October 1st, 2010

St Peter's Choir Hymn SheetThe Hymn Sheet for our 10am Harvest Eucharist Sunday 3rd October 2010 can be downloaded here: Sunday 3rd October 2010.pdf

The evening service will be a Songs Of Praise held instead of Choral Evensong at St Peter’s Parkstone at 6.30pm.

 

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Hymn Sheet for Sunday 19th September 2010

September 17th, 2010

St Peter's Choir Hymn SheetThe Hymn Sheet for our 10am Eucharist with Baptisms Sunday 19th September 2010 can be downloaded here: Sunday 19th September 2010.pdf

The evening service will be held at Parkstone United Reformed Church at 6.30pm.

 

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Hymn Sheet for Sunday 12th September 2010

September 10th, 2010

St Peter's Choir Hymn SheetThe Hymn Sheet for our 10am Eucharist Sunday 12th September 2010 can be downloaded here: Sunday 12th September 2010.pdf

The service this Sunday will end with a celebratory Praise Party in church with a bouncy castle. There is also Choral Evensong at 6.30pm on Sunday Evening. We look forward to seeing you there!

 

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