Welcome to the home of St Peter's Parkstone Parish Choir!

A huge congratulations to choristers Amy Marflitt and Alex Wehlau who have excelled in their ABRSM singing exams. Amy achieved her Grade 8 with Distinction and Alex passed her Grade 6 also with Distinction.

Congratulations to both – well done!!

The Hymn Sheet for our 10am Eucharist with Baptisms Sunday 25th July 2010 can be downloaded here: Sunday 25th July 2010.pdf

Choral Evensong on Sunday will be held at St James’ Church, Poole at 6.30pm. We have been kindly invited to join with their choir by their choirmaster David Owen Norris and so are putting on a joint Evensong (which will be the last Evensong before September). Do come and join us!

The Hymn Sheet for our 10am Eucharist Sunday 18th July 2010 can be downloaded here: Sunday 18th July 2010.pdf

Today’s Evensong has moved from the usual time of 6.30pm to 3pm where our organist Beverley Manning and Laudamus! will be singing Choral Evensong instead. The setting of the canticles will be the impressive 8 part Stanford in A.

There will be a short time of prayer held at 6.30pm for anybody who still wants to come in at that time.

The Hymn Sheet for our 10am Eucharist Sunday 11th July 2010 can be downloaded here: Sunday 11th July 2010.pdf

There is no Evensong tomorrow evening as we are all down at the Branksome Chine Community Beach Hut for our annual beach day out! Come and join us for a BBQ and a short service of worship at 4pm!

The Hymn Sheet for our 10am Eucharist Sunday 4th July 2010 can be downloaded here: Sunday 4th July 2010.pdf

Today will also be the Rev. Jenny Gaffin’s first mass after being ordained in Salisbury Cathedral yesterday so we say congratulations to her!

At 7.30pm on Saturday 24th July 2010 organist Stephen Bell will be giving an organ recital at St Peter’s Church.

Programme
Gaudeamus – Sidney Campbell
Prelude, Fugue & Chaconne in C – Dietrich Buxtehude
Chorale Preludes: “Ich Ruf zu Dir”; “In Dir ist Freude” -J S Bach
Choral no 3 in A minor – Cesar Franck
Grand Choeur en Re (alla Handel) – Alexandre Guilmant
Adagio and Scherzo (Suite Modale) – Flor Peeters
Carillon de Westminster – Louis Vierne

Biography
Stephen read music at Pembroke College, Oxford. After a year at Cambridge, during which he was awarded the Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists, he won a British Council/Italian Government scholarship to Rome Conservatoire to study with the famous organist Fernando Germani. After a successful teaching career, he is currently Musical Director of Taunton Choral Society, has conducted and played percussion with the Somerset County Orchestra and is also director of The Kingsbury Singers, who act as a visiting choir at cathedrals twice a year.

Come along and hear what promises to be an exciting evening of music on St Peter’s outstanding three manual organ and see a master at work close up via a video-screen.

Tickets £7 from St Peter’s Parish Office (01202 749085) or on the door.

Yesterday evening members of St Peter’s Choir gave an evening of choral music. The first half showcased some of the music sung during Choral Evensong including Stanford in C, From The Rising Of The Sun by Ouseley and a very touching rendition of Holy Holy Holy by Schubert. The second half was lighter opening with a comedy version of All Things Bright And Beautiful, solos from the junior choristers and The Lord Is My Shepherd (well known from the TV series The Vicar of Dibley). Our very own Tony Gatward also gave two excellent solos during the evening accompanied by Christine Taylor.

Just to reiterate the words said at the end of last evening’s summer choir concert. A huge thank you to all involved including organist Beverley Manning, the Mother’s Union who provided the refreshments and of course the members of the choir who sang so beautifully.

The evening really did match up to the weather outside and thank you once again to the choir who show not remarkable dedication, but also in the words of our rector Nigel Lloyd “they [the choir] appear as a group of people who really enjoy making music”.

Thank you!
Richard McLester

The Hymn Sheet for our 10am Eucharist with Baptisms Sunday 12th June 2010 can be downloaded here: Sunday 20th June 2010.pdf

Please note that there will be no Choral Evensong at 6.30pm because there is a youth led service at Parkstone United Reformed Church. You are all warmly invited to join us there!

There will be Choral Evensong next Sunday evening at 6.30pm and at 7pm the evening before (Saturday 26th June) there will be a summer concert performed at St Peter’s by the choir. Tickets are £5 each and include strawberries, cream plus other refreshments. Please bring a bottle if you would like wine.

Tickets are available from Caroline in the church office, Janet from the Mother’s Union and any member of the choir. We look forward to seeing you that evening!

On Sunday 13th, 8 members of St Peter’s choir travelled to Salisbury to take part in the Salisbury Diocesan Choir Festival 2010. Conducted by David Hall, the massed choirs from around the diocese made a stunning sound and it was a moving experience for both congregation and singers alike.

Members of St Peter’s congregation also travelled to not only support the choir, but also to support Alex Wehlau who was presented with her Dean’s Award. This was a fantastic achievement for Alex who gained the award with distinction.

Between the afternoon rehearsal and the evening service, many of the choir and their families sat in the Salisbury Cathedral grounds enjoying sandwiches and doughnuts.

Above; Head Chorister Amy Marflitt and Dean’s Award Candidate Alex Wehlau

Thank you to everyone who came to support the choir and congratulations to Alex once again for gaining her award!

The Hymn Sheet for our 10am Eucharist Sunday 13th June 2010 can be downloaded here: Sunday 13th June 2010.pdf

Please note that there will be no Choral Evensong at 6.30pm because the choir will be attending the Salisbury Diocesan Choir Festival instead.