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An esteemed cathedral choir is bringing its harmonies to Jersey this week in its first tour after the pandemic to celebrate the recent attachment of the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey to the Diocese of Salisbury.
Accompanied by the Dean and Canon Precentor of Salisbury Cathedral, the tour is an opportunity not only for Salisbury Cathedral Choir to sing their praises but to sing greetings to their new Channel Island colleagues.
The choir are currently in Guernsey, where they sang evensong on Tuesday evening at St. Pierre du Bois to a packed church.
Evensong this evening at the beautiful and ancient church of St Pierre du Bois was packed and it was a great pleasure for us to sing in your wonderful church. ???????? @DioSalisbury pic.twitter.com/2A7bHKWkXG
— Salisbury Cathedral Choir (@salcathchoir) March 28, 2023
Ed Rimmer, Concert Programme and Tour Manager, has the challenging task of getting forty singers (28 boy and girl choristers and 12 adult singers), two organists, and the Director of Music, David Halls, on the road – and bringing them home safely again.
"It is difficult to get so many people all in one place at the same time, but it's very rewarding to see it all come together."
He added that "we often go out to parts of the diocese to give concerts, and with Jersey and Guernsey becoming a part of the diocese, it made a lot of sense to come on tour here.
"The choristers are all very excited, and very pleased to be going on tour. For many of them, it is their first tour because due to the pandemic we have not had a chance to go away."
Let the #ChoirTour2023 begin! We have arrived in #Guernsey and are looking forward to singing at St Pierre du Bois and St Peter Port Town Church before heading to #Jersey later this week. @SalisburyCath @DioSalisbury pic.twitter.com/gAU7PgNmEo
— Salisbury Cathedral Choir (@salcathchoir) March 27, 2023
On Thursday, the choir will take the Condor to Jersey, where the programme of events includes:
Tickets for Friday's concert at Victoria College are available for free here, and the evensong is free to attend, no ticket required. All are welcome, and there will be a retiring collection for the cathedral's Choral Foundation.
The programme of music will reflect the season of Lent and features Gregorio Allegri’s setting of Psalm 51, Miserere mei, Deus, Hubert Parry’s Lord, Let me know mine end and Charles V. Stanford’s eight-part Latin Magnificat which he dedicated posthumously to Parry.
On Friday, the choristers will also be visiting the Jersey Zoo, and there was time to discover the history of the Channel Islands with a visit to Guernsey's German Occupation Museum and Castle Cornet.
"It's a nice mixture of work and play," said David Halls, the cathedral's Director of Music.
He added that "there is a choir tour policy, and it has taken us to all parts of the world, including Austria, America, France, Latvia, and Germany, but this is a wonderful opportunity for us to combine our regular touring with a welcome to the new part of our diocese. It is an absolute delight for us to be here."
"It is a wonderful showcase for the choir. These are adults and children performing music to a high standard together, but also getting along well together."
Pictured: Salisbury Cathedral's Director of Music, David Halls, hopes some young singers from the Channel Islands will be inspired to audition for the choir.
The workshop with Jersey Youth Choir hopes to strengthen the ties to the island's younger choral community.
Mr Halls said: "it is really important that children who sing choral music actually meet other young adults and children who do that same thing.
"We will sing to each other, and have a lovely time, and I'm all for that."
If any young singers from the Channel Islands are inspired to audition for Salisbury Cathedral choir, Mr Halls said they are welcome to attend the upcoming voice trials in May. Find out more and apply here.
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