St Stephen's Choir

The choir is a group of 20 - 25 singers (who are augmented from time to time for special events). The repertoire of the choir is huge, as unlike other choirs, we do not specialise in any particular period. The choir maintains the traditional Anglican repertoire whilst also singing music of the polyphonic, classical and modern schools of composition.

Settings of the Mass:

• Sheppard, Vittoria, Palestrina, Byrd (Early music)
• Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, Hummel (Classical)
• Darke, Sumsion, Ireland (Traditional Anglican)
• Jackson, Wills & Caesar (Modern - and written for St. Stephen's)
  PLUS dozens more!!!!

The Choir sings most of the mainstream settings for Evensong.

In addition, St. Stephen's Choir has sung several major choral works during the past few years including:

• Rutter "Requiem"
  (Conducted by the composer as part of the Bournemouth International Festival)
• Britten "St. Nicolas"
• Haydn "Creation"
• Vivaldi "Gloria"
• Pergolesi "Magnificat"
• Mendelssohn "Lauda Sion"
• Handel "Messiah" (Excerpts)
• Faure "Requiem"
  (sung annually on the Feast of All Souls)
• Stainer's "Crucifixion"
  (sung annually on Palm Sunday)

St Stephen's Choir Today

The Choir, apart from singing every week at St. Stephen's, likes to sing in various venues in the locality. This has included:

• Burley Parish Church
• Corfe Castle Parish Church
• Church of the Transfiguration (Canford Cliffs)
• St. Giles Church (Wimborne)
• St. Augustin's Church (Bournemouth)

Within the past few years, the Choir has also sung the weekend services at both Winchester and Salisbury Cathedrals

There are often occasions when major events occur at St. Peter's when St Stephen's Choir can be involved.

St. Stephen's Choir takes a large part in the annual St. Stephen's Music Festival, which is held over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend.

The Future

We are always looking for new Choir members. Anyone who is interested in joining the Choir is asked to attend Choir practices (Fridays at 7.00pm) for a few weeks, after which there will be an informal "audition" with the Organist, and members of the section of the Choir they wish to join (tenor, alto, bass, soprano).

As the choir maintains a huge repertoire on just one rehearsal a week, it is important that each choir member is a fairly good reader of music.

If you wish to join the choir, contact Ian Harrison through our contacts page.