Music News - August-September 2025

In the absence of our regular, expert Music Correspondent, the Chairman has had to step in, apologies! The Summer term is never a quiet one, and this year has been no exception. The Junior Choir held a Bake Sale which had the congregation queueing for delicious treats post-service. Our increasingly-popular run of lunchtime concerts came to an end on 23 July. We have enjoyed some wonderful recitals this year, and whilst we had a disappointment in that Joanna Lam had to withdraw from her recital on 2 July, we were fortunate enough to hear from Krassimira Jeliazkova and Svetlana Kalinichenko who played some exquisite violin duets, featuring works by Mozart, Corelli and Saint-Saëns. The second weekend in July was especially busy, in that we welcomed the world-famous Wayne Marshall for a hugely inspiring organ recital and also premièred one of our newly-commissioned motets in memory of Chris Ferland with music by Brian Moles with words by Paula Griffiths, Love Called For Light, at Choral Evensong; both these occasions naturally featured wine and nibbles! Our youngest choir, Joyful Noise, also ended their term of music-making with a wonderful concert in the Parish Rooms, having also waved a fond farewell to Poppy who has been helping the group for the last two years, and also to Ruby, who has been an excellent helper and provider of drinks and biscuits to the group for the last three years; to quote one of the children ‘the best biscuit lady in the world’! After a social gathering at the end of July, the choir is now on a well-earned break for the month of August, but will be back hitting the ground running for our SMMA Festal Evensong on 14 September (wine and nibbles will be back on the menu following this service).

On Sunday 21 September the Junior Choir will be visiting Sewards End Church to sing for the morning service, which will be the first such experience for our current choristers.

Looking ahead to October... On Sunday 5 October at 6.30pm there will be a very special Sung Eucharist featuring the World Première of Hannah’s Mass, composed by Philip Sunderland. Philip has written this beautiful mass setting in memory of his sister, Hannah, but sees this service as an opportunity for all those who have suffered loss to join together and remember. Philip is fundraising in order to enable this performance which features brass, percussion and organ, and the proceeds will be divided between the hospice which cared for his sister, and St Mary’s Church. To support his fundraising, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/philip-sunderland-2?utm_medium=CR&utm_source=CL.

Hannah Razzell