Joining Christ Church Choir
A video about the choir and music at Christ Church can be found here.
Christ Church has a very strong choral tradition with weekly sung services of Eucharist and Choral Evensong. We are always interested to hear from potential choir members, be they prospective junior choristers, choral scholars or volunteers. If you are interested in finding out more about joining the choir in any of the capacities below, the Director of Music, Harvey Brink, would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact music@christchurch-southgate.org
Junior Choir
At Christ Church we are committed to nurturing a love of music and singing in children of all ages and backgrounds. Children love singing, and there is nothing better than to be doing it in a supportive environment surrounded by friends.
The junior choir sings for the church’s Sunday morning Eucharist service and rehearses in the week. As well as the opportunity to sing at services with and without the adult choir, we provide a musical training that will complement and extend their musical education at home and at school. Junior choir members also have the opportunity to travel around the country with the full choir singing in wonderful buildings.
Friends are made easily within the choir and there are parties and social trips for the juniors on a regular basis. There are services dedicated specifically to the juniors and their hard work is greatly appreciated by the church which pays them pocket money in recognition of their contribution.
Whether they are already playing instruments to a high standard or just love singing around the house, we welcome all children from 6 years old upwards to consider joining the choir. The choral activities are tailored to the specific needs of the children and their involvement increases as they grow in confidence and ability. Some former members have gone on to be cathedral choristers, others have stayed in the choir into adulthood, for many it is just good fun. All are welcome.
Choristers rehearse 6.45pm - 8.30pm on Fridays and sing for Eucharist on Sundays at 10am with 9.30am rehearsal. Probationers rehearse 6.15pm - 7.15pm on Fridays and sing for Eucharist one Sunday per month at 10am with 9.30am rehearsal.
Volunteers
The volunteer choir of up to 25 singers are at the heart of the church’s music. They sing for Eucharist and Choral Evensong every Sunday as well as for all the Easter and Christmas services. In addition to the Sunday services, the choir gives concerts, sings in cathedrals in the UK and abroad and makes recordings.
The repertoire sung at Christ Church is wide and varied and draws the on the wealth of the Christian Church’s many musical traditions. From plainsong and early polyphony to music being written today and new commissions, there is something to suit everyone’s tastes. On Sundays an introit, mass setting and communion motet are performed at the Eucharist service, and at Evensong the choir sings a chanted psalm, anthem and settings of the Magnificat, Nunc Dimittis and Responses. Special services and concerts give opportunities for performances of more extended works, such as a cantata or requiem, often with orchestra.
The choir’s dedication to the music it sings is matched by its friendliness and camaraderie across its wide age-range. Students find it a great opportunity to make friends who share their passion; those in work enjoy doing something relaxing and invigorating at the end of a busy week and many stay singing well into retirement. There is a church bar where choir members go to relax after rehearsals and services, and parties and social events take place throughout the year, to mention nothing of the trips to cathedrals and abroad.
The choir often has vacancies for singers of all parts; auditions for new singers take place throughout the year by arrangement with the Director of Music. The choir has a holiday during the month of August and the week after Christmas and Easter.
Choral Scholarships
Christ Church offers four choral scholarships to singers aged 16-25. Click here for detailed information and advice on application.