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The Choir of St James’ is one of the oldest musical establishments in Australia, and is linked to the earliest days of the colony of New South Wales. Indeed, some of its early members were convicts. For much of its almost two hundred years of ministry the Choir has been regarded as one of Australia’s foremost Anglican choirs.
This has continued to the present day, where uniquely in Sydney, the Choir consists of around a dozen professional adult singers. The Choir maintains a regular schedule of weekly choral services in addition to special services and state funerals. It has become known and highly regarded for its artistically outstanding performances, from small choral pieces to large-scale choral and orchestral works. The Choir presents an annual series of three Orchestral Masses in January, and a Concert Series of six concerts throughout the year.
The Choir of St James’ has a large and varied repertoire, both sacred and secular, encompassing music from the Middle Ages to the contemporary, and it is committed to supporting new Australian works, including compositions written by past and present members of the Choir – there is no other choir in Australia that fosters local talent in this way. It also undertakes a comprehensive programme of recording, broadcasting and touring, interstate and overseas.
The Choir enjoys regular collaborations with international groups such as The Tallis Scholars (Director: Peter Phillips), The King's Singers, The Gabrieli Consort & Players (Director: Paul McCreesh), and works with Opera Australia, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Australian Baroque Brass, The Australian Haydn Ensemble, and soloists Yvonne Kenny, Greta Bradman and Teddy Tahu Rhodes.
The Choir has performed performed in Europe and Singapore. The Choir of St James’ made its debut at City Recital Hall in April 2017, performing J.S. Bach’s St John Passion (BWV 245), returning in 2018 to perform George Frideric Handel’s Messiah with BachBand@St James’. In both 2017 and 2018, it travelled to Gallipoli to sing at the ANZAC Day Dawn Service, and in 2018 performed to critical acclaim at the Coriole Music Festival in Adelaide, and in Hobart at Festival of Voices .
Head of Music: Warren Trevelyan-Jones; Organist: Alistair Nelson; Organ Scholar: Titus Grenyer. |
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BachBand@StJames’ is one of Sydney’s newest Baroque ensembles, whose membership comprises the most sought-after Baroque instrumentalists in the city. It performs regularly with The Choir of St James’ in concerts and services, such as the Cantata Series, where Cantatas by J.S. Bach are performed liturgically in the Lutheran style. |
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Violins: Fiona Ziegler, Ben Smith, Stephanie Zarka, Ilya Isakovich
Viola: Tobias Brieder
Cello: Rowena Crouch
Double-bass: Jennifer Druery
Piccolo: Lamorna Nightingale
Flute: James Fortune
Oboes: Matthew Tighe, Nicola Bell
Clarinet: Alexei Dupressoir, Alex McCracken
Bassoon: Matthew Ockenden
Contrabassoon: Laura Brown
Flugelhorn: John Foster
Percussion: Clarinet Joshua Hill
Harp: Justina Varkuleviciute |
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Sources:
Choir of St James' King Street, Sydney page on Facebook
St James Music Website
Photo 05: Chris Shain; Photo 14: Isabella Woods, Philip Murray, Owen Elsley, Kim Horam, Chris Hoppy, John Pitman and Warren Trevelyan-Jones at Esplanade - Theatres On The Bay
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (August
2019, October 2024) |
