Home > Music > The Priory Choirs

The Priory has a long choral tradition. This tradition is continued today with our thriving and expanding music programme. The basic aim of all the choirs is the same: to be able to lead and enhance the worshipping life of this church.

Regular Sunday services are led by the Priory choirs: the boys choir and the girls choir, who each sing together with the dedicated team of volunteer choirmen.

Some Sundays when the main choirs are on holiday are covered by the mixed-voice adult Priory Singers, and the new Priory Chamber Choir sings at other special occasions (see bottom of page).

Thursday
Boys Practice: 3.45-4.45

Friday Full Practice
Boys: 6.15-8.00 (with a break)
Girls: 6.45-8.30 (with a break)
Men: 7.15-9.00

Sunday services (usually divided between boys and girls choirs):
9.45 Choral Eucharist (9.00 Rehearsal)
11.15 Choral Matins
6.30 Choral Evensong (5.55 Rehearsal)

Special services have separate arrangements.

Choristers benefit from extensive training from professional musicians. This team is led by Hugh Morris; as Director of the Girls Choir, Mary Goodman has an important role in the work of training the girl choristers. They gain recognition for their developing skills through the ribbons awarded through the Royal School of Church Music’s Voice for Life scheme. They are paid, per attendance, according to experience and ribbon level. Extra fees are payable to the choirs when they sing at weddings in the Priory.

The choirs enjoy an active social programme (quizzes, meals, films etc.), and have also been to sing in churches and cathedrals across the South. They have also sung together with other choirs from Greater Churches. In 2012, the boys and girls have both undertaken residential trips to Oxfordshire. The boy choristers have sung Evensong together with the choir of Salisbury Cathedral, and the girl choristers have sung together with the choir of Christchurch College, Oxford.

For more information about joining any of the choirs, please contact the Director of Music, Hugh Morris on 01202 471045 or 07890 288214, or email music@christchurchpriory.org.

There are currently waiting lists in operation for the boys choir, girls choir and Minims.


The Priory Singers


This is a mixed-voice, largely adult choir which sings at Sundays when the regular Priory choir is on holiday; about 8 per year. Rehearsals are held on one or two Thursday evenings before each of the Sundays. There is no audition for this choir, though some experience in singing in choirs and/or reading music is an advantage, and membership is freely offered on a trial basis, which will be evaluated informally after a given period.


The Priory Chamber Choir


This is also a mixed-voice, largely adult choir, but entry is by (informal) audition and the repertoire selected is designed to explore more challenging areas of the choral repertory. Good music reading skills are essential for this choir! Rehearsals also take place on the one or two Thursday evenings preceding a service.

Minims


Minims is the Priory's new Junior Choir. Open to boys and girls aged 6-10, it sings a wide variety of fun repertoire, and has unique performance opportunities in the Priory. It aims to give children a firm foundation in singing, and to equip them with the knowledge and skills required to be a successful singer.