The Chaplaincy Choir is a dedicated group of singers who meet every Friday with our choirmaster and organist Gareth Williams. Most of the time we meet in Civray , – the practice room is in the tower situated at the right-hand side of St Nicholas Church. Rehearsals are from 2.00pm to 4.00pm on Friday afternoons;
Many of our members come from further afield in the Chaplaincy, travelling very long distances for the pleasure of sharing a really good sing every week.
Every month we have a longer workshop session in someone’s house followed by a bring-and-share supper.
Choirmaster: Gareth Williams, B.Mus., was formerly Organist and Choirmaster at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Cardiff (1982 – 2003) and Head of Music at a Cardiff Comprehensive School until retirement in 1994.
After studying music at university in Cardiff, he was assistant organist and lay clerk at Bangor Cathedral for a time before returning to South Wales. After touring America for several months in 1997/8 he became a founder member of Only Men Aloud. He has been responsible for music in the Chaplaincy since 2004.
Click on the links to YouTube if you would like to hear examples of the type of music we sing .http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eo47J2Nnhw Duruflé sung in French
Ley – Evening Hymn of Charles I 128kbps The Evening Hymn by Henry Ley Sung by the choir of Hereford Cathedral
Forthcoming services with the Choir:
We offer music for the great festivals such as Advent, Christmas, Easter and Pentecost, and also for special services.
In the past year we have sung for a High Mass, a Body and Soul service, a Good Friday service of meditation and a special Mothers Union service as well as at funerals, weddings and baptisms.
Examples of our repertoire include Bach, Mozart, Palestrina, Praetorius , Greene but also modern classics such as Clucas, Weaver, Rutter and Harper.
You do not have to be able to read music to sing in the choir, although you will soon pick up the important basics. Being able to count is probably the most important skill!
Everyone is welcome to join us - we are always in need of more tenors and basses. Please telephone Gareth Williams (Tel : 05 49 48 29 68) to find out more.
