Choir’s songs will help young musicians
At St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Morrinsville, monthly concerts take place from April through to November.
The aim of these concerts initially, is to raise funds for the new organ at St Matthew’s, which is a Johannus Sweelinck 37.
Concerts are varied, with all performers donating their time for the fundraising.
After the organ is funded, then it is hoped to continue the concerts, in order to fund an ongoing scholarship for young musicians who would be interested in learning the organ.
It is also hoped that these concerts will become a platform for young musicians to perform publicly and increase their performing experiences - either instrumental or voice.
St Matthew’s Anglican Church’s next concert, ‘Sacred and Secular’ - a programme of choral and instrumental music presented by the Saint Andrew’s Choir, is on Sunday September 18.
It starts at 2pm and afternoon tea is served after the concert.
The Saint Andrew’s Choir is a voluntary group, made up of people from all walks of life, who rehearse weekly and lead the music at the Sung Eucharist service each Sunday.
The choir also sings Choral Evensong from time to time and presents special services at Passiontide, Easter, All Souls, Patronal Festival and Christmas.
The choir has sung services at Holy Trinity Cathedral on a number of occasions and participates in services organized by the Royal School of Church Music, to which the choir is affiliated.
From time to time the choir commissions a new work from a New Zealand composer.
As part of its community outreach the Choir visits other parishes in the Auckland Diocese, presents fund raising concerts for a variety of causes and sings in rest homes at Christmas time.
A highlight for the choir is its annual weekend away out of Auckland.
This is when the choir visits another parish and presenting concerts and singing at church services.
Over the past few years the choir has visited Taupo, Rotorua, Cambridge, Hamilton, Morrinsville and Whangarei.
The Parish of Saint Andrew offers choral scholarships to young people.
These scholarships are supported by the ‘‘Friends of the Choir’’ organisation.
The choir has produced four CDs and has been heard frequently on the RNZ programme, Hymns on Sunday.
It has also made several appearances on the Praise Be programme presented by Television NZ.
Entry is $10 per adult and under 14s are free.